Bert Vos violin, horn violin, scordatura violin, founder
Instruments a 1690 Jacobs (Amsterdam) violin; a 1930 German horn violin; a Romanian scordatura violin made in 1999.
Then violin studies at Rubin Academy in Israel; International Youth Orchestra directed by Lorin Maazel; masterclasses in New York and Stuttgart; Gertler String Quartet (Tel Aviv); Escher Ensemble.
Now Sexteto Canyengue led by Carel Kraayenhof; leader, Shtetl Band Amsterdam; Bonjour Madame trio; promoting the work of my mother, the writer Ida Vos.
"A Yidl mitn Fidl from the shtetl Amsterdam, that's me. Finally I play the music with which I grew up."
Iefke Wang violin, viola
Instruments an Italian violin circa 1760; a viola built by Möller in 1925, loaned by the Nationaal Muziekinstrumenten Fonds.
Then violin studies at Messiaen Academie and Scuola di Musica di Fiesole in Italy; touring Colombia and Spain with string quintet Ambrosia; Opera Trionfo, Kraayenhof Tango Ensemble, Grup Yorum; Master Arts and Sciences.
Now all solo cantates by Telemann on baroque violin; RBO Sinfonia; substituting in the Gelders Orkest; teaching violin at Music School Amsterdam.
"Using my violin to let people dance, that is what I want. I also enjoy to waltz like a bride with my four musicians."
Michiel Ockeloen accordion
Instrument a Scandalli Super VI accordion from the good old days.
Then many music theatre performances and lots of bands; played festivals in Zürich, Linz en Cleveland with theatre group Huis aan de Amstel; my formal studies were classical, world music became my passion.
Now klezmer, tango, chorinho and many other happy sounds from various regions of our planet; I also teach and give workshops.
"I am grateful for all good things that come my way: music, playing together with fine people, the great richness of experiences that life offers."
Gregor Schaefer bassetl, artistic direction
Instruments a Bohemian bassetl from 1880, a German bassetl made in 1970.
Then in the 1990s jazz and balkan music; recorded Transylvanian music in Sun Studios (Memphis) with the group Csókolom; played a concert for 2000 hippies in Australia; played in Tuzla (Bosnia) on a field while the neighbours were hanging out of the windows singing the songs with us.
Now klezmer, composing, Sephardic music, ud, and also back to jazz.
"In this group many things that I enjoy come together: Jewish and Eastern European bowing techniques, strong rhythms and melodies, interaction within a small ensemble."
Roberto Haliffi drumset, poyk
Instruments an Amsterdam poyk that I built 2007; a drumset that I bought in 1998.
Then jazz drummer in Italy; later gigged in the Netherlands and abroad with Woody Shaw, Hans Dulfer, Pia Beck, John Marshall, Rosa King, Denise Jannah.
Now lots of jazz, pure klezmer, also crossovers with the Klezmokum ensemble.
"As a Sephardic-Jewish boy from Libya I fled to Italy and ended up in Amsterdam, where I am a proud poyk player, playing Eastern European Jewish music. Life is a journey, enjoy the ride!"
