Ilana Cravitz (GB; violin, dance)

is one of a handful of professional violinists in the UK playing klezmer music in the traditional style. She has introduced people of all ages and abilities to klezmer through her performances, courses and workshops at festivals, venues of all shapes and sizes, and universities, music colleges and schools. Her book, Klezmer Fiddle – a how-to guide, is published by Oxford University Press. Ilana also leads and calls for Yiddish dances, working with drummer/dancer Guy Schalom in Hopkele Productions, and is a founder member of the London Klezmer Quartet, which within five years has produced three well-received CDs, toured Australia four times and appeared on national radio and television in a number of countries. She has worked with leading Sephardic music group Los Desterrados and guested with many klezmer bands, including She'Koyokh (UK) and Isle of Klezbos (US). Ilana studied baroque violin and viola da gamba at post-graduate level at the Royal College of Music in London, and can still sometimes be heard in concert playing on gut strings, as well as playing English, Scottish and Irish music with ceilidh bands.

www.ilanacravitz.com

Photo: Natalie Koffmann