Tisha B'Av: Klezmer Instrumental Spoken-Word Workshops & Jam

Internationally acclaimed musicians Zoë Aqua and Yonatan Kunda are offering local musicians and poets of all levels a special opportunity to participate in two workshops and a jam before they perform at the Peretz Centre at 7:30pm (with Dan Kunda Thagard).

This Tisha B'Av, participants can choose from two workshops led by Zoë and Yonatan, before both groups will come together for a spoken word klezmer jam:

Klezmer Improv Workshop with Zoë Aqua

Come one come all to learn a klezmer tune by ear! All instruments and all levels welcome (kids welcome as well, with parents), no previous experience with klezmer necessary. Zoë is an experienced teacher passionate about helping beginner and intermediate-level players develop their skills in a klezmer context. 

Zoë Aqua was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She played Suzuki violin while her dad led songs at their local synagogue and played klezmer music on the weekends. After college, Aqua lived in Brooklyn for a decade amidst a generous and progressive Jewish community that stoked her love of old klezmer recordings and her fascination with Eastern European music. She co-founded two klezmer bands, Tsibele and Farnakht, and was the full-time understudy for the Klezmatics’ Lisa Gutkin in the Broadway production of “Indecent.” Long passionate about teaching, Zoë holds two degrees in music education. She has performed at Philadelphia Folk Festival, Klezkanada Festival, Yiddish New York Festival and has toured in Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, Romania, and Turkey.

Edge of Your Tongue! A Multi-Lingual Spoken-Word Poetry Workshop with Yonatan Kunda

קצה הלשון طرف الالسان

Join a creative exploration of Jewish oral-poetry traditions - from prophecy and prayer all the way to modern day hip-hop. Using voice, rhythm and word in any language you know – come speak your mind and heart…And create your very own poetic Sermon-Slam!

Yonatan Kunda is a poet, rapper, playwright, and teacher who performs and teaches in diverse communities throughout Israel and abroad. He is the founding member of the renowned Arabic-Hebrew-Russian Rap ensemble System Ali,. Kunda has published three award-winning poetry books and several original plays for theatre. His poetry has been translated into Arabic, English, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Greek. A teacher of poetry, spoken-word, and Jewish scripture, he has worked in diverse communities throughout the country and abroad, including leading bi-lingual Hebrew-Arabic poetry programs for Palestinian and Israeli youth.

How to Participate

Sunday, August 3rd, 2025

Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture

6184 Ash Street, Vancouver

3:00-4:30pm: Choose ONE Workshop (in the registration form)

5:00-6:00pm: Spoken Word Klezmer Jam

Registration: Free! Donations are welcome at the door (100% goes to teachers)

Package: Workshop participants can also get $5 off tickets to the evening performance ($20). Select the package option for admission to all events: the workshops, jam, and the performance.

Learn more about the performance with Zoë Aqua, Yonatan Kunda, and Dan Kunda Thagard, Beit בית بيت: An Evening of Poetry & Music for Tisha B'Av (7:30-9pm, doors at 7pm)