Schmaltz & Pepper

Tickets starting at $59 Where Klezmer Meets the Concert Hall! A uniquely virtuosic and entertaining chamber ensemble performing original music inspired by Klezmer, Yiddish Swing, Jazz and Classical music. Schmaltz & Pepper is a quintet that spins Eastern European Jewish folk traditions into something entirely, irresistibly their own. The band brings together Eric Abramovitz, principal clarinetist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Grammy winning multi-instrumentalist and arranger Drew Jurecka; virtuosic violinist, vocalist, and composer Rebekah Wolkstein; JUNO-nominated bassist Michael Herring; and JUNO award-winning pianist Jeremy Ledbetter. Their repertoire is almost entirely original — drawing on Yiddish swing, jazz, Roma music, and classical sensibilities. Their debut album won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Instrumental Compositions in 2026. Following a sold-out 11-show tour of Florida in 2025, the band returned to Florida in January 2027 and continued touring across Canada and the USA. “Five outstanding virtuoso musicians. A shining example of musical brilliance… breathtaking artistry.”- Ludwig Van “An extraordinary ensemble set to become a major force on the global scene.” – Classical 96.3 FM About the band: This groundbreaking ensemble features the extraordinary talents of Eric Abramovitz, the principal clarinetist of the Toronto Symphony and the Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist and arranger, Drew Jurecka, virtuosic violinist/vocalist/composer, Rebekah Wolkstein founder/leader of the acclaimed Payadora Ensemble, Juno-nominated bassist, Michael Herring and Juno-award winning pianist, Jeremy Ledbetter. This ensemble is redefining the traditional boundaries of Yiddish music, blending classical mastery with innovative compositions and soulful arrangements. This band has an exhilarating trajectory. A mere 6 months after Abramovitz and Wolkstein came up with the idea to form a band, they had a full show of original music and inventive arrangements. Their debut performance was a live to air broadcast with a studio audience at Zoomer Hall in Toronto for Classical 96.3FM in May, 2024. Since then, they have sold out shows for Ashkenaz, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Jewish Music Week in Toronto and headlined the ‘Put a Yid on it’ festival in Winnipeg. They performed at many of the top chamber music festivals in Canada in 2025 — Toronto Summer Music, Ottawa Chamberfest, Stratford Summer Music, Eloria Music Festival, Tuckamore Festival in Newfoundland — and completed a sold-out 11-show tour of Florida. Their debut album won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Instrumental Compositions in 2026. In January 2027, the band returned to Florida for another tour and continued performing across Canada and the USA.