Polina Shepherd (Brighton UK, piano)
Born in Siberia, Russia, and now based in Brighton, Polina Shepherd (Skovoroda) is an internationally renowned composer, singer, pianist and the foremost Yiddish and Russian choir leader.
Whilst living in Kazan (capital of Tatarstan) and studying at the State Academy, Polina joined Russia′s first klezmer band after Perestroika, Simcha (1990-2000). She soon became the principal Yiddish choir leader of the former Soviet Union, composing original material for large groups of voices and touring internationally with her Quartet Ashkenazim (1991-2007).
Currently bringing all her early experiences to the front, Polina has composed original songs and is performing them with a Brighton based brass band Fanfara.
As a pianist works with the Sound & Light Cinematic Duo (UK), who play live accompaniment to rare black and white films. Also she is a member of the Merlin Shepherd Quartet who bring together the music of Jewish eastern Europe, Greece and Turkey. Choir leader of Chutzpah choir since September 2006, the Russian choir of Brighton & Hove since 2007 and the UCL East European choir since 2010. As a Russian and Yiddish singer worked and recorded with a remix artist Max Pashm in his project Never Mind the Balkans.
In 2008-09, Polina worked for Glyndebourne Education as a vocal tutor.
Programme director for International Klezmer Music Festival and Seminar in Moscow in 2005 and 2006, the International Festival of Jewish Culture and the Competition of Jewish musicians in Kazan, Russia in 2002 and 2003. Jewish song and choir teacher at International Jewish events: Furth (2007), Klezfest London (2004-10), Klezmer Paris (2005, 2008), Moscow (2005-06), Kharkov Klezmer Teg (2003), Klezfest Kiev (2000-2005), Jewish Festival in Kazan (2001-03), Sheshory’2007-Podilsky in Nemirov, Ukraine. Lecturer on Jewish music at the Centre of History and Culture of Jewish People, Kazan State University, 2002-03.
Yiddish Music adviser for a theatre show production Paul, strange Kind of a Hero in Brighton UK by Goodcompanymedia, April 2007.
Representative artist of The Brighton Festival of World Sacred Music
Member of the Natural Voice Practitioner’s Network
About 100 compositions including music for theatre shows, large scale choir compositions, settings for Yiddish poems, piano work, and niggunim performed by soloists and choirs all over the world.
>> www.polinashepherd.co.uk
Merlin Shepherd (Brighton UK, clarinet)
Internationally acclaimed performer, composer and educator. He has developed a special method of teaching Jewish instrumentalists by ear, which has influenced many teacher's practises throughout the world.
Has been Musical Director for The Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London. He was also Klezmer Advisor for the Royal Shakespeare Company for their 1992 production of Anski’s “The Dybbuk”.
He works as Music Co-ordinator for KlezKamp, KlezFest London and taught at KlezFest St Petersburg, KlezFest Ukraine and KlezKanada. He is one of the world's leading players of traditional East European Klezmer Clarinet style, and apart from his own ensembles he has worked and toured throughout Britain and Europe with Budowitz, Frank London's Klezmer Brass Allstars and the Burning Bush.
Performed the world premiere of “Kol Simcha” by Adam Gorb for London Musici. Composed scores for numerous dance and theatre companies. International performances, television and radio appearances with New Presumption, Merlin Shepherd Klezmer Trio, RNT.
Leads The Merlin Shepherd Kapelye featuring The Former Soviet Union Klezmer Allstars that perform Merlin’s compositions in traditional and new klezmer style. Also leads the Merlin Shepherd Quartet, the smaller more intimate version of his Kapelye.
Merlin also works with Polina Shepherd as The Sound & Light Cinematic Duo, playing to the Yuri Morozov Collection of B&W silent Jewish films made in Kiev from 1908-1945.
Merlin is currently working on a new remix CD of his latest compositions, featuring Smadj, Mercan Dede, Dj ClicK, DJ Shazam and many other world leading remixers…
>> www.merlinshepherd.co.uk
