Ilana Cravitz, violin

Ilana has introduced hundreds of people of all ages to klezmer through gigs in venues large and small, as well as via courses and workshops at universities and conservatoires, and at events like the Genius of the Violin Festival and Fiddles on Fire. Her book 'Klezmer Fiddle - a how-to guide' is published by Oxford University Press and was described by Folk Roots magazine as “the best exposition I’ve come across of Eastern European-style Jewish fiddle playing…Highly recommended.” Ilana guests regularly with ceilidh band The Muckers and is working with English folk singer Rosanna Lowe. She studied baroque violin at postgraduate level at the Royal College of Music.

Susi Evans, clarinet 

Susi's performances with the She’Koyokh Klezmer Ensemble, a group which she co-founded, have inspired press reviews remarking on her “nimble solo features and excellent tone control” (The Scottish Herald), and “infectious enthusiasm” (Oxford Times). Susi also appears regularly on the West End stage in the award-winning show War Horse. She is much in demand for concerts and recordings with international artists. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with a first class degree in 2004 and and has studied in Istanbul with acclaimed clarinettist Selim Sesler.

Carol Isaacs, piano accordion

A classically-trained pianist, keyboard player and accordionist, Carol works in the pop and world music fields. She has recorded and toured with many international artists including:
Sinead O’Connor (Ireland)
The Indigo Girls, Joan Baez, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne (USA)
Robert Palmer, Boy George, Sam Brown, Midge Ure, Latin Quarter (UK)
Natacha Atlas, Sheik Taha (Egypt), Abdel Ali Slimani (Algeria) and Ahmed Mukhtar (Iraq)
Phongsit Khampee, Surachai Janthimatorn (Thailand)

Indra Buraczewska, double bass (Australia)

After graduating from the Victorian College of Arts (Australia) as a classical violinist, Indra discovered the wonderful world of the bass. She has played a multitude of genres from original pop to jazz and funk. Touring throughout Europe, Indra has played at the Edinburgh and Galway festivals, and in Australia has appeared at major festivals including Woodford, the Falls Festival, Earthcore and the National Folk Festival. She played bass for the gypsy trio ‘Vardos’ for the past six years and is currently a member of an exciting new Balkans quartet ‘Byzantine Blue’. Indra joined the London Klezmer Quartet for their debut 2012 Australian tour, and will be working with them again.

Shirley Smart, cello (UK)

Shirley spent 10 years in Jerusalem, during which time she began playing Arabic music and jazz, which she subsequently studied at the International centre for Creative Music in Ein Kerem, Israel. She has toured the Middle East and Europe with the region's leading musicians, including Khaled Jubran, Sabreen, Sound of the Ground and the Al-Farabi Trio, as well as collaborating with numerous jazz projects in Israel. She now lives in London, and performs extensively with several world music and jazz groups, including world music group Melange, acclaimed string trio Kosmos, and has her own jazz quartet. She also teaches Musicianship and Improvisation at the Royal College of Music Junior department.
 

Ruth Goller, double bass (UK)

Originally from Italy, Ruth is now based in London and plays electric bass and double bass with leading UK bands – Acoustic Ladyland, Oriole, The Sefiroth Ensemble and Pat Walden’s (Babyshambles) new band ‘Big Dave'. She also plays with Seb Rochford, Shabaka Hutchings, Leafcutter John, James Allsopp, Kit Downes and Chris Sharkey. Ruth is currently working with Bojan Z and Sufi-master and musician Davood Azad. She has toured venues and festivals throughout Europe, Morocco and Brazil. Ruth has a BA in Jazz performance from Middlesex University.

Francesca Ter-Berg, cello (UK)

Francesca is a cellist specialising in klezmer and gypsy music, which she has studied with internationally renowned musicians and teachers, most recently the legendary Manouche maestro Tcha Limberger. She performs with acclaimed folk singers Sam Lee and Katy Carr and has recently collaborated with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Mercury Award Winner Talvin Singh. Francesca teaches klezmer for the Jewish Music Institute at the School of Oriental and African Studies, and frequently hosts world music shows live on Resonance 104.4FM.