We envision a constantly expanding and interconnected community of researchers, performers, teachers, students, and heritage practitioners supported by authoritative resources and innovative projects.

Klezmer and Ashkenazic cultural community empowerment leads to creativity, growth and continuity. Commitment to high academic and creative standards contributes to a community of excellence among performers, researchers, educators, and practitioners.

Research

The Institute is a digital-first research powerhouse that is creating and maintaining projects that are both advancing scholarship in our subject areas and developing new digital humanities tools that will benefit heritage communities seeking to document their own expressive cultures. 

Publishing

The Klezmer Institute has begun a series of music folios by authors with specialized knowledge about klezmer music and its relationship to Ashkenazic dance. These folios will highlight the specialized repertoire of klezmer families and to document the repertoires of important klezmer musicians.

Clara Byom, Development Director

Clara Byom is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, musicologist, arts administrator, and tunesmith based in Albuquerque, NM. As Development Director, Clara  coordinates grant writing for Institute projects, develops membership and fundraising drives, and oversees traditional outreach and social media campaigns for the Institute.

Christina Crowder, Executive Director

Christina is the Executive Director of the Klezmer Institute. She is a klezmer accordionist, music researcher, and most recently music director and performing artist in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of the Broadway play “Indecent.”