Family Day: Pippi Longstocking's 80th Birthday Celebration with the Klezmatics!

The Klezmatics are Grammy-winning klezmer superstars who revolutionized Yiddish music.
Emerging from New York City’s East Village in 1986, they infused Eastern European Jewish roots with bold contemporary themes like human rights and anti-fundamentalism. Their eclectic sound blends Latin stomps, jazz riffs, and rhythms from the Balkans, Middle East, Africa, and America.

For nearly 40 years, The Klezmatics have reimagined klezmer, inspiring generations of musicians. Their achievements include 13 acclaimed recordings, tours across five continents, and collaborations with artists like Itzhak Perlman, Tony Kushner, Chava Alberstein, and Arlo Guthrie. They are the only klezmer band to win a Grammy, earning the 2006 award for Wonder Wheel: Lyrics by Woody Guthrie.

Their music has enriched theater, dance, film, and television, appearing in A Dybbuk, Pilobolus Dance Theatre’s Davenen, and PBS’s Great Performances. They’ve reached millions through shows like Late Night with David Letterman, NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion, and HBO’s Sex and the City.

The Klezmatics have performed in over 20 countries at venues and festivals such as Carnegie Hall, WOMAD, Colours of Ostrava, and Yiddish Summer Weimar. Honors include the German Critics Award, New York Jewish Music Award, a GLAMA, and multiple Billboard World Music chart-toppers.

Through their vibrant, danceable music, The Klezmatics transcend labels – redefining Jewish culture and leaving a lasting mark on global music.

Come see BKCM faculty members perform as part of Brownstone Brass, an NYC-based brass quintet looking to push the boundaries of what a traditional Brass Quintet looks and sounds like. Made up of professional freelancing brass musicians including married trumpeters Caitlin Featherstone and Oscar Wiley Thorp, Horn player Ser Konvalin, multi faceted trombonist Colin Babcock, and “Tuba Queen” Heather Ewer, this ensemble has a passion for classic brass quintet repertoire, original arrangements and compositions, new music and more. Not to mention having fun while rehearsing and performing in a positive and encouraging environment while spreading their love and passion for music.