Band Members
Name: David Zaidins
Major/year: Biological Sciences, '12
Instrument: Alto sax
About: Works at University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute as a Researcher. Founding resident of the Pittsburgh Moishe House
Major/year: Biological Sciences, '12
Instrument: Alto sax
About: Works at University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute as a Researcher. Founding resident of the Pittsburgh Moishe House
Name: Charlotte Ullman
Major/year: Cello Performance, sophomore
Instrument: Cello
About: Charlotte is currently in her second year at the CMU School of Music, studying cello with Anne Martindale Williams. Originally from Redding, CT, Charlotte has previously studied music at the Mannes College Preparatory Division in New York City. Although new to Klezmer, Charlotte has participated in numerous ensembles, including the New York Youth Symphony, Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic, Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra, and the Mannes Preparatory Philharmonic. She has collaborated in chamber groups both at the NYU Summer Intensive String Quartet Workshop and Mannes Prep.
Major/year: Cello Performance, sophomore
Instrument: Cello
About: Charlotte is currently in her second year at the CMU School of Music, studying cello with Anne Martindale Williams. Originally from Redding, CT, Charlotte has previously studied music at the Mannes College Preparatory Division in New York City. Although new to Klezmer, Charlotte has participated in numerous ensembles, including the New York Youth Symphony, Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic, Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra, and the Mannes Preparatory Philharmonic. She has collaborated in chamber groups both at the NYU Summer Intensive String Quartet Workshop and Mannes Prep.
Name: Noah Hermalin
Major/year: Linguistics and Japanese, sophomore
Instrument: violin
About: Noah Hermalin has been playing the violin for more than 11 years (though you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise). He stopped playing classical music as soon as he could, instead favoring music styles such as klezmer, gypsy/Romani, Irish, Scottish, and some old American fiddle, though he has softened his stance on classical music in his decrepit old age. He credits his musical abilities to his Violin teacher, his vitamin A intake to copious amounts of carrots, and his eye color to his parents, from whom he received most of his genes.
Major/year: Linguistics and Japanese, sophomore
Instrument: violin
About: Noah Hermalin has been playing the violin for more than 11 years (though you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise). He stopped playing classical music as soon as he could, instead favoring music styles such as klezmer, gypsy/Romani, Irish, Scottish, and some old American fiddle, though he has softened his stance on classical music in his decrepit old age. He credits his musical abilities to his Violin teacher, his vitamin A intake to copious amounts of carrots, and his eye color to his parents, from whom he received most of his genes.
Name: Tamara Cherwin
Major/year: Biology, sophomore (University of Pittsburgh)
Instrument: Flute
About: Tamara hopes to major in Ecology and Evolution so that she can become an environmental scientist. Tamara has practiced classical flute for six years and also dabbles in piano, guitar, and any wind instrument she can get her hands on. Though this is her first time playing in a band, Tamara’s great-uncle was apparently a balalaika fiend in his shtetl Klezmer band, so she hopes the gift runs in her blood.
Major/year: Biology, sophomore (University of Pittsburgh)
Instrument: Flute
About: Tamara hopes to major in Ecology and Evolution so that she can become an environmental scientist. Tamara has practiced classical flute for six years and also dabbles in piano, guitar, and any wind instrument she can get her hands on. Though this is her first time playing in a band, Tamara’s great-uncle was apparently a balalaika fiend in his shtetl Klezmer band, so she hopes the gift runs in her blood.
Name: Naomi Rubin
Major/year: Computer Science, sophomore
Instrument: Viola
About: Naomi has been playing viola for 10 years. In high school, she was in a Klezmer band at her synagogue, and she is thrilled to have the chance to continue playing klezmer in college.
Major/year: Computer Science, sophomore
Instrument: Viola
About: Naomi has been playing viola for 10 years. In high school, she was in a Klezmer band at her synagogue, and she is thrilled to have the chance to continue playing klezmer in college.
Name: Esther (Sarah) Troetschel
Major/year: Political Science, senior
Instrument: Vocal
About: Esther is a political science student at Chatham College for Women. She hopes to make the world a better place through activism but for now she is content with making people happy through song. She feels really blessed to be singing with the band. Even though she has been listening Klezmer for since a young age, she only took up singing during her first year of college. Since then she has done an internship with Cantor Benjamin Rosner while he was at Beth Shalom in Squirrel Hill and has sang at events for the All-Faith Gathering, which she is currently president of.
Major/year: Political Science, senior
Instrument: Vocal
About: Esther is a political science student at Chatham College for Women. She hopes to make the world a better place through activism but for now she is content with making people happy through song. She feels really blessed to be singing with the band. Even though she has been listening Klezmer for since a young age, she only took up singing during her first year of college. Since then she has done an internship with Cantor Benjamin Rosner while he was at Beth Shalom in Squirrel Hill and has sang at events for the All-Faith Gathering, which she is currently president of.
Name: Seth Flaxman
Major/year: PhD student in machine learning and public policy at CMU
Instrument: Clarinet
About: Seth grew up in Evanston, Illinois, playing clarinet and sax in his public school's band, orchestra, and jazz bands. As an undergrad, he led RecKlez, the Harvard klezmer band. He speaks passable Yiddish, which he's trying to improve.
Major/year: PhD student in machine learning and public policy at CMU
Instrument: Clarinet
About: Seth grew up in Evanston, Illinois, playing clarinet and sax in his public school's band, orchestra, and jazz bands. As an undergrad, he led RecKlez, the Harvard klezmer band. He speaks passable Yiddish, which he's trying to improve.