“Unbelievable! The best Mandolin music ever!” Grammy-nominated Isreali mandolinist Avi Avital seems to have the magic power that brings the mandolin to life! Along with the accordionist Uri Sharlin from New York and the percussionist Shane Shanahan from Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, they form a vibrant crossover trio to present an exciting program featuring classic Klezmer melodies, sizzling Balkanians folk songs, and original jazzy compositions. The virtuoso clarinetist Gilad Harel from Tel Aviv will join them as a special guest to give the audiences an unforgettable music feast!

Mandolin / Avi Avital

Praised by the New York Times for his “exquisitely sensitive playing,” Grammy nominee mandolinist Avi Avital has been recognized as one of the world’s most exciting musical entrepreneurs. He has performed widely in Israel, Europe, the US, South Africa and Asia. He has played as a soloist with leading orchestras across the globe, including the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Latvia, and the Berliner Symphoniker. He also has collaborated with prominent musicians including Sir Simon Rattle, soprano Dawn Upshaw, clarinetist Giora Feidman, and trumpeter Frank London.

Accordion / Uri Sharlin

Born in Tel Aviv, Uri Sharlin was featured as a pianist in the acclaimed HBO series Flight of the Conchords. Uri is currently leading several groups of his own, among which are The Cardamon Quartet with which he recorded his first album Reflections of the Road (2005), DogCat and Other Animals and Play Me a Story Inc.

Percussion / Shane Shanahan

Since 2000, Shane Shanahan has been touring around the globe performing with Yo-Yo Ma as an original member in the Grammy-nominated Silk Road Ensemble. He can also be heard on Ma's Grammy Award winning holiday CD/DVD release Songs of Joy And Peace. Shane’s debut solo CD was released in January of 2011. He has performed and recorded many artists, including Philip Glass, Alison Krauss, Deep Purple, Jordi Savall, Sonny Fortune, Fantasia, Chaka Khan, and Glen Velez.

Clarinet/ Gilad Harel

A native of Israel, clarinetist Gilad Harel is an avid chamber music player, a new music promoter and an active Klezmer/world/pop music performer. He has toured with pop singer-song-writer Natalie Merchant, played at the main stage of the Krakow Jewish Culture Festival in Poland, and was a part of a two-week long festival of Israeli Jazz in New York City.