Yiddish Songs in Harmony: A Vocal Workshop with Levyosn

Join members of Levyosn, the internationally-acclaimed Yiddish song ensemble, for a workshop exploring the rich repertoire of Yiddish folk song. Over 90 minutes, we will dive into pronunciation, vocal style, and technique, teaching several of our signature arrangements of love songs, lullabies, and laments.

This workshop is open to singers of all backgrounds and abilities; no prior experience with Yiddish, Jewish music, singing, or harmony is required. All songs will be taught by ear.

With a Levyosn singer leading each vocal part, we will be singing in satisfying three-part harmony in no time.

Saturday, August 29^th from 2:00-3:30pm

Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture

6184 Ash St., Vancouver, BC V5Z 3G9​

➤   How to Get Here / Building & Accessibility Information

Free parking is available on the street or in the underground parkade.

Registration is required in advance, by donation (minimum $5 per person, recommended $18 per person).

ALSO: Get tickets for Levyosn’s performance at 7pm, featuring original Yiddish songs and innovative arrangements of archival folk songs from their new album Levyosn’s Dream (Borcht Beat, 2026).

Our Workshop Teachers

Adah Hetko is a Yiddish singer, songwriter, and dance leader active in the international Yiddish culture scene. Since 2013, she has trained with leading Yiddish singers, including Judy Bressler (legendary founding member of the Klezmer Conservatory Band) and NEH fellow Ethel Raim, and has been mentored in Yiddish songwriting by Daniel Kahn and Josh Waletzky. While completing an MA in Jewish Studies at Indiana University, she developed deep knowledge of Yiddish language and culture, which she has learned to effectively share with audiences in the Boston area and beyond. Her work has been supported by the New Jewish Culture Fellowship, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, KlezKanada, Yiddish New York, the Yiddish Book Center and Combined Jewish Philanthropies. adahhetko.net

Lysander Jaffe is a Boston-based violinist, violist, and vocalist, equally at home in chamber music, traditional music, and cross-genre collaborations. He is a Co-Artistic Director of Grammy-nominated string orchestra Palaver Strings and a founding member of the Yiddish ensemble Levyosn and the genre-defying vocal quintet Culomba. He has studied with masters of traditional music in Bulgaria, Kosovo, Greece, Corsica, and Georgia, and is a two-time recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council Apprenticeship in Traditional Arts. Lysander co-directs two Boston area choirs and is in demand as a workshop leader around the world. For more information, visit lysanderjaffe.com

Lexi Ugelow is a vocalist, songwriter, expressive arts workshop and music education facilitator based in Cambridge, MA. She is a lifelong learner and lover of intergenerational community singing. A professional vocalist and self-produced songwriter, Lexi has toured with groups such as Northern Harmony, Culomba, Honey & Soul and Road Dogs, performing and teaching workshops to adults and children. Though her interests and experience with music spans from funk, to world folk music, you can be always be sure to expect some buttery harmonies. A firm believer that our bodies are our instruments, she encourages the practice of non-judgement during exploration of musical play. Moving into her fifth year as Co-Music Director for Sing Positive, Lexi continues to use music as a way to help others build community, confidence and self expression. lexiugelow.com

Sponsored and funded by the Peretz Centre’s Shaya Kirman Memorial Fund for Yiddish Culture and KlezWest.