The 15th edition of the International Jewish Music Festival will be held in Amsterdam on October 23-25, 2009 in the brand new concert halls of the Amsterdam Conservatory.

In May 2008, at the first-ever international Jewish music competition, 24 ensembles from 15 countries battled it out for prize money, concert engagements and a chance at a recording contract with Universal Records. This year, the International Jewish Music Festival welcomes back the winners for a weekend full of concerts, workshops, an open podium and much more. The ensembles – hailing from the U.S.A., the U.K., Serbia, and the Netherlands – will give concerts and workshops in various Jewish music sub-genres: hip-hop for kids, Yiddish song, Sephardic music, klezmer and Balkan music, close harmony and crossover classical.

Singer Hilda Bronstein, who won the Mira Rafalowicz Prize for the best Yiddish song interpretation, will be back to present both a concert with accordionist and keybordist Yair Schleider, as well as a workshop entitled “Sing your Roots”.

The grand prize trophy winner from last year, She’Koyokh, will host a swinging jam session and will present the closing concert. In a special ceremony during this concert, the mayor of Amsterdam will receive their trophy and present it in turn to a leading figure in the Dutch Jewish music world, cantor Hans Bloemendal. Dr. Bloemendal is being honored for his contribution to the preservation of Jewish music, having served the Amsterdam Jewish community for more than 60 years.

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More program information:

http://www.ijmf.org/eng/