Education / Training

Kurt teaches various instruments since many years. His main instruments are clarinets and saxophones. He also teaches accordion, recorder, and tsimbl (Jewish style hammered dulcimer.) Kurt teaches music theory and composition as well. He studied clarinet with Lloyd Scott and Larry Combs (Principal clarinet at the CSO). Rental instruments are available.

Musical director of the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble and, a member of Brave Old World, Kurt has also toured and recorded with the Klezmatics (New York) and violinist Itzhak Perlman. He has taught klezmer music style and techniques at numerous festivals and workshops in Europe and North America, and he has composed symphonic pieces based on klezmer music.
In addition to his involvement with Yiddish music, he has been active playing jazz, chamber music and various styles of ethnic folk music, as well as arranging and performing music for theater.