is a multi-instrumentalist (accordion, keyboards, guitar, flute, percussion), arranger, composer and educator specialising in Jewish music, from klezmer and Yiddish folk song to fusion and experimental projects.

Ilya is the artistic director and a founding member of the Yiddish psychedelic rock band Forshpil (Latvia-Russia-Germany) and a founding member of the Yiddish-Bavarian fusion project Alpen Klezmer (Germany), winner of 2014 RUTH World music award at TFF Rudolstadt). He frequently performs with Dobranotch (Russia) and collaborates with artists such as Alan Bern, the Klezmatics, and Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird.

Over the years he has performed and taught at major Jewish festivals around the world, including Yiddish Summer Weimar, Yiddish Fest Moscow, Klezfest St.Petersburg, Klezfest London, KlezKanada, Montreal Jewish Festival, Toronto Ashkenaz Festival, and Krakow Jewish Festival.
Photo: Marlene Karpischek

www.forshpil.com
http://andrea-pancur.de/Alpenklezmer.htm