The Jewish Music Festival is the largest festival of Jewish music in the West. This year’s festival includes 12 events throughout the Bay Area and 10 related events. There is guaranteed to be something for everyone! Purchase tickets online now!

The mission of the Jewish Music Festival is to present music that celebrates the Jewish experience and explores what it means to be Jewish in a multicultural world. The Festival produces creative and entertaining programs, challenges stereotypes, and fosters engagement with the broader community.

We are pleased to present a thrilling variety of Jewish music and culture ranging from New Orleans funky Klezmer-New Orleans Klezmer Allstars-to Classical Chazzanut-Traditions and Transformations. There will be a World Premiere performance of New Music by Bay Area Contemporary composers-Jewish Fringes-and a U.S. Premiere of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) singer Hadass Pal-Yarden with an ensemble of Turkey’s finest musicians- Istanbul to Jerusalem: Yahudice. Also, Israeli artist Yair Dalal returns to the Bay Area with his original blend of Israeli and Iraqi music.

I-Tal-Ya, a taste of Passover for the 2000 year old Italian Jewish community, will leave you with Italian songs perfect for the upcoming Passover Seder.

And if you want to hear some Latin beats, don’t miss Bagels and Bongos. Septeto Rodriguez and special guest Irving Fields bring Havana, Harlem and the Catskills together in a brilliant mix of Cuban and Klezmer.

For all you Yiddish lovers, we have the one and only Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman, the NEA fellowship award winning Yiddish poet, songwriter, and singer for a matinee performance of her original work with singer Theresa Tova. Tova can also be seen with her friends Joanne Borts and Adrienne Cooper as the three of them pour passion and artistry into Yiddish jazz, cabaret and theater songs in Three Yiddish Divas.

The Festival Finale—Community Music Day, Sunday, March 26th, is hosted by the one and only Josh Kornbluth, brilliant monologist and TV personality. The day starts with a children’s concert by Ira Levin, and an exotic Instrument Petting Zoo, for all ages. Instruments range from the accordion, bass and mandolin, to the Middle Eastern kanun, and vocal percussion. Workshops and performances follow with local artists including the Instant Klezmer Mandolin Orchestra, Charming Hostess, members of Kitka, and others. A Klezmer/Roma (Gypsy) Dance Party with Dan Cantrell and friends ends the Festival with a taste of the world (and Festival) to come.

>> Listen to samples of these wonderful artists now!

For this year’s Festival Brochure call the box office at (415) 276-1511 or email our office.