Andreas Schmitges is a professional klezmer musician, dance leader, author and Yiddishist from Cologne. He leads workshops in Yiddish music, culture and theater. Together with the New York theater director, Jenny Romaine, he recently created a stage production of the Yiddish Purimshpil “Megille Reloaded” (Di Megile fun Itzik Manger) for the 2011 NRW Jewish Culture Days. He speaks Yiddish fluently and is especially interested in the interactions among language, music and dance.

Andreas Schmitges maintains a busy touring schedule with his bands A TICKLE IN THE HEART and KLEZMER ALLIANCE. He regularly teaches Yiddish dance along with his main instruments guitar and mandolin at international workshops including KlezKamp (New York), KlezFest (London), Klezmer Paris, Klezmer Festival Stockholm and throughout the world. He has had the honor of performing with stars of the international klezmer scene including Deborah Strauss, Shura Lipovski, Pesakh Fiszman, Frank London and Efim Chorny.

In the past year as part of an other music e.V. initiative, he has begun an exploration of the connections among Yiddish, South- and North German folk music and dance that has already yielded surprising results.

>> www.yiddishfolk.com
>> www.klezmeralliance.com
>> www.fidlroyz.com
>> www.schmitges.com