Jewish people love a good story. For more than 2,000 years they traded folk tales, fables and jokes with people all over Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. These stories have survived and crossed cultures because they reflect who we are and what we could become, calling to the best within us and provoking thought and laughter in young and old alike. Join this acclaimed Toronto storyteller as he adds a little contemporary Jewish spice to folk tales, fables and jokes from both Ashkenazi and Sephardic folklore. Aubrey Davis's latest book, "Bagels from Benny," won the Canadian Jewish Book Award (children's literature) and the Sydney Taylor Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries. His forthcoming titles include: "Kishka for Koppel" (Orca, 2011) and "A Hen for Izzy Pippik" (Kids Can Press, 2012).
In 2010, Aubrey Davis appeared in
“YidRhythmics” is inspired by Dalcroze Eurhythmics, a European movement-based approach to music education. Plunge into the joyous world of Jewish music via an invigorating combination of singing, movement explorations, improvisation, and wacky musical games! Workshop leader Brian Katz is an internationally acclaimed guitarist, pianist, composer, music educator and recording artist, and a certified Dalcroze Eurhythmics teacher.
In 2010, Brian Katz appeared in
Yidrythmics
- Monday, September 6th at 3:00pm in the Lakeside Terrace Tent
In “Our Zeydas and Bubbas as Children and Teens,” the dynamic sister duo of Reyna and Temma Schaechter (The Schaechter Daughters) bridge the gap of time and place with a treasury of Yiddish song and musical vignettes depicting the childhood and teenage years of their grandparents in Eastern Europe and after emigration to America. Audiences young and old have been inspired by the charm and artistry of this native Yiddish-speaking team who have performed to great acclaim around the world, including Australia, Israel, Paris, Los Angeles and New York City. Di Shekhter-Tekhter are directed and accompanied on piano by their father, Binyumen Schaechter, son of the influential Yiddishist Mordkhe Schaechter z”l, and nephew of the acclaimed Yiddish poet/songwriter Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman. Representing a family lineage of great distinction, Di Shekhter-Tekhter are living proof of the continuing vitality of Yiddish and its survival amongst younger generations.
In 2010, Di Shekhter-Tekhter appeared in
Kids Show - Sunday, September 5th at 3:00pm on the Redpath Stage
Flory Jagoda was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia, where her mother’s family, the Altaras, were well-known singers and musicians for generations. Following the tragic obliteration of Sarajevo’s Sephardim in the Holocaust, Jagoda immigrated to the US, and for the last six decades has made it her personal mission to keep alive the rich Ladino musical tradition of Bosnia’s Jews, earning her the sobriquet "Keeper of the Flame.” Now in her eighties and residing in Washington, DC, Flory continues to perform and is known world-wide as one of the only authentic performers of Ladino music. Though in danger of extinction, Ladino music has recently experienced a minor revival, in no small part due to Flory Jagoda’s stewardship. In 2002, Flory was honoured with a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts for her contribution to preserving a traditional art form. Featuring Flory Jagoda (vocals, guitar), Susan Gaeta (vocals, guitar), and Howard Bass (guitar), with special guests Milos Popovic (accordion), Aleksandar Gajic (violin), and Eric Stein (mandolin).
In 2010, Flory Jagoda appeared in
Concert - Saturday, September 4th at 7:00pm at the Enwave Theatre
Moroccan-born, New York-based Gerard Edery is recognized as a leading musical folklorist and a master singer and guitarist. He has at his command a remarkable range of ethnic folk styles and traditions from around the world, singing in fifteen languages and speaking four fluently. With a repertoire including songs from Europe, the Middle East, South America and ancient Persia, Edery’s unique interpretive flair highlights how disparate cultures overlap, parallel each other and often borrow from one another. In "Everybody's Song" Edery introduces audiences to the shared musical heritage of Jews, Christians and Muslims during the Golden Age of Spain, highlighting for contemporary youth the hope and possibility of coexistence, tolerance, respect and peace among all peoples.
In 2010, Gerard Edery appeared in
What is a Jewish jug band? Families and kids of all ages at the Ashkenaz Festival are about to find out. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert music-maker and whether you play the clarinet or the kazoo, Sruli and Lisa invite you to join the noisiest band Ashkenaz has ever seen—or heard! Washboards, spoons, jugs, bones, kazoos and melodicas will mix with traditional instruments of all kinds in an intergenerational cacophony of epic proportions. A limited number of non-traditional instruments will be made available to participants on a first-come basis, otherwise bring your own implement of sonic destruction (and maybe some ear plugs!). Children under 12 are welcome with a participating adult.
In 2010, Jewish Jug Band with Sruli and Lisa appeared in
Sruli and Lisa
- Sunday, September 5th at 2:00pm in the Lakeside Terrace Tent
Sruli and Lisa
- Monday, September 6th at 12:00pm in the Lakeside Terrace Tent
In this brand new musical setting of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s classic children’s story, the spirit of good luck (Mazel) outwits the spirit of bad luck (Shlimazel) and helps a poor but honest peasant lad marry the king's daughter. David Wall narrates this colorful fun-filled adventure, featuring an onstage band playing original klezmer music with animations based on the illustrations from the original Isaac Bashevis Singer publication, created by artist Margot Zemach. Composer and percussionist Lorie Wolf is best-known in Jewish music circles for her work with the Sisters of Sheynville, The Lithuanian Empire and her last musical/literary production entitled "Taibele and Her Demon." She is joined at Ashkenaz by some of Toronto’s top Jewish music instrumentalists, including Martin van de Ven (clarinet), Milos Popovic (accordion) and Victor Bateman (bass).
In 2010, Lorie Wolf “Mazel and Schlimazel” appeared in
Kids Show - Sunday, September 5th at 5:30pm in the Studio Theatre
Help create the festival’s largest work of art! Assisted by Shadowland Theatre, kids can create their own costumes and props for the Ashkenaz Parade on Labour Day Monday.
In 2010, Parade Crafts with Shadowland appeared in
Kids Show - Sunday, September 5th at 12:00pm in the ZOOM! Kids Tent
Ashkenaz favourites, Sruli and Lisa return to the festival for the first time since 2006, introducing children of all ages to klezmer music and the world where it was born. From bubbes to babies, Sruli and Lisa will have audiences on their feet laughing, clapping, singing and dancing in a freylekh frenzy! Featuring Lisa Mayer and Sruli Dresdner.
In 2010, Sruli and Lisa “Klezmer For Kids” appeared in
Kids Show - Monday, September 6th at 2:00pm on the Redpath Stage
Ten-year old Shira longs to play fiddle in her father’s klezmer group, and gets her chance when on the eve of a big Hanukah gig the group’s regular violinist falls ill. Joan Betty Stuchner and Richard Row’s touching children’s book comes to life in this multi-media presentation combining a live reading by Toronto author Anne Dublin, projections of illustrations from the book, live klezmer music from Sruli and Lisa and interactive dance components. For ages 3-12 (and big kids too!)
In 2010, The Kugel Valley Klezmer Band appeared in
Kids Show - Sunday, September 5th at 4:00pm in the Studio Theatre
