Andreas Schmitges is a professional Klezmer musician, dance leader, author and Yiddishist from Cologne. Since he is a fluent Yiddish speaker he is extremely happy that this years topic in Weimar is “Yidishkayt“. He has learnt a lot about „Yidish un Yidishkayt“ from his friend, the late Pesakh Fiszman (z’’l), who always told him that Yiddish without “Yidishkayt” was just an impossible thing.

Andreas maintains a busy touring schedule with his bands A TICKLE IN THE HEART and KLEZMER ALLIANCE and regularly teaches Yiddish dance and his main instruments guitar and mandolin at international workshops including KlezKamp (New York), KlezFest (London), Klezmer Paris and Klezmer Festival Stockholm.

He has had the honor of performing with Klezmer  stars like Deborah Strauss, Shura Lipovski, Frank London and Efim Chorny. He is especially interested in the connections between Yiddish Songs, Dance and Klezmer Music and is currently undertaking research in the field of “tantslider”, Yiddish Dance Songs.

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