Diana Matut (Germany; voice, recorder)

holds a position as lecturer for Jewish Studies at the University Halle-Wittenberg. She gives courses in Yiddish language and literature as well as on Jewish culture, with a special emphasis on the history of Jewish music.
She began her studies at Halle University but finished her Diploma in Hebrew and Jewish Studies in 1999 at the University of Oxford, following up with a Masters Degree in Yiddish Studies at SOAS, London, in 2001. The same year brought her to the Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, where she participated in the Advanced Seminar in Yiddish Studies. Diana works regularly as Visiting Fellow and lecturer at various universities in Germany and abroad, among them Rome, Olomouc & Graz, where she focuses on Yiddish language and literature as well as Jewish music.

In addition, she teaches at various workshops, giving, amongst others, courses on Early Jewish music as well as Yiddish song from the 19th to 21st century for children and adults.
See: www.klezmerwelten.de
        www.yiddishsummer.eu

She is founder and singer of the early music folk band simkhat hanefesh (Joy of the Soul), which specializes in the performance of Jewish music from Renaissance to Baroque: www.simkhat-hanefesh.com

Photo: Antje Seeger