Yiddish Choir Workshop 
Aug 15 – 17
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. & 3 – 6 p.m.


With Polina Shepherd

The YSW Yiddish choir workshop offers a unique opportunity to experience a fascinating repertoire in an inspiring atmosphere. For several years now, the course has been focusing on specific aspects of Yiddish singing, including language, musical style, history and cultural context. How can a Yiddish song arrangement be different from other Jewish choral music? How traditional or modern can a Yiddish choir be?

Picking up on this year's YSW theme "The Weimar Republic of Yiddishland" from a choral perspective, we will explore early 20th-century choral repertoire as well as material arranged and composed exclusively for YSW 2019, in addition to the usual rich spread of East European Jewish choral music – traditional four-voice scores, nigunim warm ups, simple fun songs learned by ear, and improvised material.

Enjoy singing in a warm-hearted atmosphere under the guidance of one of the world's most charismatic and inspiring choir directors. Polina's teaching methods are based on and experiment with East European sound, ornamentation and modalities, with attention to stylistic detail, history and context. All singers are welcome, although you will need to be able to follow the written music and be prepared to learn by ear.

If you have questions about the program or would like to know whether this workshop is right for you, please contact Polina Shepherd at www.polinashepherd.co.uk/contact.

Workshop fee: 120 € Standard / 90 € Reduced / 150 € Sponsor / 60€ under 18.
For information about the Standard, Reduced and Supporter fees >> read about

 

The evening program that caps each workshop day has much to do with the unique atmosphere of Yiddish Summer Weimar. On some evenings we meet for jam sessions in Weimar's cafés or in the Other Music Academy (OMA), a great opportunity to put into practice what you've been learning during the day and connect with the other participants. On other evenings, we present concerts connected to the workshop topic performed by internationally recognized artists. During the Festival Week (July 27 - August 3), directly following each evening's featured event in the mon ami cultural center, we meet again in the OMA for the Late Night Cabaret, an informal and fun atmosphere for short performances by anyone ready to jump on stage. In Yiddish Summer Weimar, learning, playing and connecting with each other go hand-in-hand.