Mark Kovnatskiy is a widely traveled and highly acclaimed violinist, composer and expert in Yiddish dances.

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He is at the head of a generation that has saved the sensitive playing style of the old Klezmorim for the present and developed it further. He has performed and taught at many music festivals around the world from the USA and Canada to Japan.

 

In addition to his projects such as the Hamburg Klezmer Band, Di Yidishe Neshome, Semer Ensemble, Torah Images, Joel Rubin Ensemble and Fialke, Mark has performed as a guest musician with Socalled, Efim Chorny, Painted Bird and Forshpil, among others. He teaches Yiddish music and dance internationally.

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Mark has worked with orchestras such as the Music Viva, Augsburger Philharmoniker, Aurora Orchestra, INSO Lviv, Weimar Staatskapelle and Kölner Akademie.

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2009-2016 Mark also was the artistic director of the international "Yiddish Fest Moscow" (Russia). In 2009 he worked as artistic director of the Hamburg "KlezmerFest".

 

His own compositions are performed by various musical projects (both klezmer and classical) around the world, including musicians from the San Francisco Symphony (USA). 

 

In 2019, Mark released his first collection of tunes Di naye yidishe melodyes (New Yiddish melodies). The second compilation of Mark's compositions, Di naye yidishe melodyes Volume 2 was published in the summer of 2020. Currently Mark is working on his third volume.