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The Golden Thread Ensemble presents "Yiddish Songs of Social Change”, with Grammy-winning vocalist Lorin Sklamberg of The Klezmatics and acclaimed Latvian singer Sasha Lurje. Featuring fresh arrangements by Craig Judelman, this unique project celebrates the power of song to inspire the central concept of Judaism - Tikun Olam, repairing the world.

In their own unique sound drawing from both traditional and contemporary musical styles, the septet crafts a compelling narrative of the role of music in the struggle for safe working conditions, justice and equality. From intimate folk ballads to rousing theater tunes and labor anthems, each song is carefully chosen to illuminate the complex relationship between community, identity, and social change, resulting in a performance that's historically insightful and emotionally resonant.

Bringing together seven world-class European and American musicians, this ensemble offers a captivating blend of virtuosic musicianship, compelling songs and thoughtfully contextualized cultural depth. Whether you're a longtime fan of klezmer or new to Yiddish music, The Golden Thread Septet promises an unforgettable experience that bridges past and present, tradition and innovation. Experience the power of Yiddish song to connect, inspire, and move audiences across generations.

Musician Bios:

Lorin Sklamberg

Vocals, Accordion

New York, NY

Lorin Sklamberg grew up in LA where he was introduced to Balkan, Jewish and other music at a young age. He was already performing as a teenager, but it wasn’t until moving to New York in the mid 80’s that he founded The Klezmatics and really found his voice and claimed his place as one of the most recognizable and influential voices in Yiddish music.

Since then he has earned a Grammy for his work with the Klezmatics while also composing and collaborating numerous other projects, working with such luminaries as Chava Alberstein and Susan McKeown. When he’s not on stage he can be found digging for treasures at the YIVO center in New York where he works as the head archivist.

Latvian-born, Berlin-based, Sasha Lurje is one of the leading voices in the international Yiddish music scene, not only as a vocalist but also as an actor, dance leader, researcher and festival organizer. She has performed at major venues and festivals around Europe, North and South America, with such groups as Forshpil, Semer Ensemble, Black Rooster Kapelye and Yiddish Glory and in collaborations with such artists as Dobranotch, Michael Wex, Frank London, Daniel Kahn, and many more.

Sasha's voice and passion are unmistakable – an active pillar of the Berlin klezmer community, Sasha doesn't just sing; she creates experiences, be it at festivals like Yiddish Summer Weimar, where she is a regular or Shtetl Berlin which she cofounded 2016 and is still among the core organizers today.

Sasha Lurje

Vocals

Berlin, DE

Craig Judelman is highly regarded as a fiddler, composer and educator on both sides of the Atlantic. He began playing klezmer in the 90s, and through his background in classical jazz, and American folk music, combined with intense study of Yiddish music and history, developed a unique perspective on Ashkenazi fiddling.

Since moving to Berlin in 2017, Craig has developed a singular voice in the klezmer scene, recording and performing with the genre’s leading musicians including Michael Alpert, with whom he released the highly acclaimed duo album In Der Heym in 2023. Craig is co-director of Shtetl Berlin and co-founder of Seattle Yiddish Fest.

Craig Judelman

Violin, Vocals, Compositions, Bandleader

Berlin, DE

Abigale Reisman

Violin

Gloucester, MA

Abigale Reisman is a violinist, composer, improviser, and educator. She is particularly interested in expressing the human voice through the violin and connecting her klezmer fiddling to the rhythms and accents of the Yiddish language.

She performs with the International Jewish Music Festival award winning band, Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band and recently released a critically-acclaimed album Tsvey Strunes with fellow fiddler Jake Shulman-Ment. Abigale was commissioned by the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra to write a Concerto for Klezmer band and orchestra, which premiered on September 5th, 2024 in Aalborg, Denmark.

Lysander Jaffe

Viola

Boston, MA

Lysander Jaffe is a Boston-based violinist, violist, and vocalist, equally at home in chamber music, traditional music, and cross-genre collaborations. He holds a Masters in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory and is renowned for both as a skilled classical musician and for his command of East European and Mediterranean folk styles.

He has studied with masters of traditional music in Bulgaria, Kosovo, Greece, Corsica, and Georgia, and is a two-time recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council Apprenticeship in Traditional Arts. He is Co-Artistic Director of the Grammy-nominated chamber orchestra Palaver Strings and a founding member of the ensemble Levyosn, which specializes in Yiddish song and klezmer music.

Raffi Boden has forged his own expansive style on the cello, combining his fluency on the instrument with a reverence for folk traditions and a flair for experimentation and improvisation.

Since graduating from the Juilliard School, Raffi has cultivated a multi- dimensional career as a NY-based freelance musician, performing in ensembles from experimental chamber trios to raucous klezmer big bands and in venues ranging from intimate neighborhood haunts to Carnegie Hall.

Raffi Boden

Cello

Brooklyn, NY

Kirsten Lamb

Bass

Boston, MA

Kirsten Lamb is an award-winning double bassist, vocalist, and educator. Praised by the Boston Globe for her “versatility and assurance” and the Huffington Post as a “brilliant musician,” she has performed internationally as a soloist and alongside Itzhak Perlman, John Zorn, Andy Statman, and Gil Scott-Heron's Midnight Band, among others.

She holds an MM in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory and a BM in Double Bass and Ethnomusicology from Oberlin Conservatory.


The Golden Thread Ensemble's performance was a breathtaking journey through music and emotion.

Anna B.

★★★★★