KlezFester Comments
modified April 12, 2010

What KlezFest participants have said about their experiences:

See what they said up to 2005

"This musical bonanza has become a pivotal part of my year. I leave it buzzing with new departures inspired by the best klezmoria gang in the world. An emotional and musical experience that goes beyond Klezmer."

"A rich and heart-warming experience, both musically and through meeting such gifted, interesting and - above all - menschlichepeople"

" A wonderful, buzzy atmosphere and heavenly music"

I had an absolutely wonderful time. Such a brilliant atmosphere with wonderful people and music. Has been the best year for me yet. Loved the dancing and especially the Tisch!!! Thank you so much for giving me the scholarship to come once again."

" Total immersion technique. Very effective."

" I was there for the first time and am still totally enthusiastic of everything I have seen there! Above all the professional teachers were great! All of them! The results of their work were visible everywhere, on every ensemble, on every nigun they taught, simply on everything. And I was also surprised at their kind, open and helpful characters!"

" I had a fantastic week, meeting lovely people in a wonderfully festive atmosphere. I came away uplifted and inspired! The teachers were great, and so generous with their knowledge. To work in such an intense way was very rewarding."

" I feel much more confident with the accuracy of my dance teaching and delight that I now have a wider range of dances to offer. Loved it!"

" I am still in an energetic and creative flow three weeks later. It was a very new experience. All these fantastic musicians. A new way to play klezmer, to play the violin. Thanks, I am very grateful."

" I felt privileged to learn from great teachers whom we all admire. The organisation and administrative side felt seamless and all went smoothly. The venue is perfect and your staff efficient and friendly I am sure a lot of hard work went into the setting up process and many thanks for that."

" I felt deeply impressed by the melting experiences of music, dancing, singing (nigunim) and by the co-operation among the instrumental faculty.

"I found exactly what I was looking for in this Klezfest: a high musical quality, very talented faculty members, very nice organizers."

"It was a delight - my first experience of immersion in Yiddish song and culture. I felt welcomed and stimulated. It also felt quite hectic and I had to opt out of evening events in order to be able to sustain my energy…(oh to be young again!)"

" Wonderful music, exhilarating dance, lovely people, outpourings of the creative spirit, so many ideas, so many feelings, so much to take away with me…."

" Brilliant, in one word. Meeting and learning from one's idols. Amazing."

" I was only able to "put my toe in the water" for the first time this year, but I enjoyed every minute of it and felt totally exhilarated by the experience."

" The structure was better than last year - including the first introduction to the timetable. I feel charged up and since last year I looked forward to come this year. It is very good and familiar; you make no difference between Jewish and non-Jewish persons."

" Great fun. The best holiday"

"Was great. Close contact with my heroes, made a lot of contacts. It's like a surge of energy that will motivate me for the close future."

" A wonderful week filled with things to learn, good music, good teachers and nice people"

" It was my first Klezfest London and I was quite curious to experience the special atmosphere everybody has told me about. I must say I felt very welcome and had a great time."

" It was great, I really enjoyed it and would do it again."

" I've really enjoyed Klezfest. I particularly enjoyed the communal singing at the start of the day. It was good to be able to "cross-over" and do some singing alongside the instrumental workshops."

" The mixture as before - but what a mixture! Still marvellous!"

" Unbelievably wonderful experience to learn more about a lifelong hobby, exquisite concerts, much fun. Fulfilling a lifelong dream."

"Tiring but inspiring"

" Wonderful community, greatmusicians, "family-level" faculty and administration. I love you all."

" Thanks to all 3 of you for your excellent job. This week was really therapeutic for me, it takes me completely out of my daily work and dipped me in a fantastic world of Judaism and music with such lovely people." (Dr Willy Kostucki - Belgium)

Listen to and download the entire 2009 student concert (right-click and save as):

01 Paul Tkachenko intro
02 Paul Tkachenko vegetables
03 Monica Acosta
04 Ros Hawley
05 Christian Dawid
06 Sanne Moricke
07 Ilana Cravitz
08 Dance, sing and play
09 Orchestra- 1
10 Orchestra- 2
11 Orchestra- 3
12 Orchestra- 4
13 Orchestra- 5

Thanks to Andy Roberts for recording the concert. All files are in mp3 format.

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