Merlin Shepherd

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“Merlin Shepherd is Britain’s finest Klezmer clarinetist”  Songlines

Bringing together the music of Jewish eastern Europe, Greece and Turkey,
The Merlin Shepherd Quartet entice and seduce us with irresistible music for dancing and listening.

Merlin Shepherd (Brighton, UK) is one of the world's leading players of traditional East European Klezmer Clarinet style, and apart from his own ensembles he has worked and toured throughout Britain and Europe with Budowitz, Frank London's Klezmer Brass Allstars and Aaron Alexander’s Midrash Mish-Mosh.

He has been Musical Director for Shakespeare's Globe, Royal Shakespeare and Royal National Theatres and has played and composed for numerous theatre and radio projects. He works as Music Co-ordinator for KlezKamp, KlezFest London and has taught at KlezFest St Petersburg, KlezFest Ukraine and KlezKanada.

Klezmer is a powerful, emotional and rooted music form, providing both ritual and party music. As such it is the ideal accompaniment for Jewish celebrations of all kinds including weddings and bah mitzvahs and parties of every kind. Merlin Shepherd is a master of his craft and is equally at home on a concert stage or a wedding dance floor.

 “A force to be reckoned with”  TimeOut

“He colours and shapes every phrase…..providing spiritual & emotional heart”  London Evening Standard

"Slow Hora in Gm "

"Secondhand Apron"