The Berkeley Klezmer Orchestra
There is nothing like the sound of a full klezmer orchestra, and that is what the Berkeley Klezmer Orchestra presents. We play to capture the classic style which makes klezmer music so joyous and emotionally powerful. Our instrumentation is reminiscent of that of the klezmer bands of the early 20th century (that traditional sound having been taught to myself by Ken Richmond and the Yale Klezmer Band in 1994). Our repertoire, however, reaches beyond the klezmer big-band classics and includes Yiddish theatre tunes and traditional Jewish folk songs, all done with klezmer simchah.


The Berkeley Klezmer Orchestra was formed in the fall of 1996 by students of the University of California at Berkeley. We play for all occasions throughout the Bay Area, from weddings to purim parties. For information about our performances, please contact me by e-mail at scott@nuc.berkeley.edu.