Schmaltz & Pepper: what’s not to love about a group that offers, in their own words, “classy klezmer - chamber music and jazz infused with schmaltz”! The energy at their concerts pours off the stage, engaging audiences with original works. Individually and collectively, Schmaltz & Pepper members have won multiple awards; WholeNote magazine calls them “virtuosic, soul-stirring, innovative and just plain fun”; and Eric’s Mom calls them “the greatest band in the world!”
According to a 2024 interview published in The Forward, this unique ensemble’s origin story goes something like this: Prior to co-founding Schmaltz & Pepper, Rebekah Wolkstein and Drew Jurecka led the Payadora Tango Ensemble. Wolkstein, who holds a doctorate in violin performance, recalled listening to Klezmer records and playing along with them, noting: “It felt like music that I should be playing.”
Later, when Wolkstein and clarinetist Eric Abramovitz were playing a chamber music concert together in Toronto, Abramovitz jokingly mentioned the idea of starting a klezmer band. “And then Becca said, ‘let’s do it!’” said Abramovitz. “I thought she was pulling my leg!” A mere six months after that spontaneous start, the concept had grown to include Drew Jurecka, Jeremy Ledbetter, and Michael Herring: Schmaltz & Pepper was born. At breath-taking speed, they created an entire concert of original music for a live-to-air broadcast from Zoomer Hall, Toronto, in May 2024. Listen here.
Since then, Schmaltz & Pepper have performed at top chamber music festivals across Canada, among them Toronto Summer Music, Ottawa Chamberfest, Elora Music Festival and Tuckamore Festival in Newfoundland, in addition to a sold-out 11-show tour of Florida in 2025. Schmaltz & Pepper’s debut album won the 2026 Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Instrumental Compositions. In 2027, Schmaltz & Pepper will perform at Koerner Hall in February and return to Florida as part of an extensive North American tour.
“While klezmer is an old and treasured Ashkenazi Jewish musical tradition, we aim to infuse it with our own unique blend of flavours and spices,” said Wolkstein. These are the multi-faceted musicians who bring their vast array of interests and experiences to Schmaltz & Pepper:
Eric Abramovitz, currently Principal Clarinet with the Toronto Symphony, has appeared as a featured soloist with numerous orchestras across Canada and has toured throughout Japan with the New York Symphonic Ensemble. A native Montrealer, it will come as no surprise to learn that Eric cheers for the Habs.
Michael Herring, a Juno-nominated bassist, leads or co-leads five distinct ensembles, and has toured and recorded in New Orleans; Mali, Africa; and Amsterdam. With the support of a Chalmers Fellowship from the Ontario Arts Council, Michael enjoyed an extended residency in New York.
Drew Jurecka trained as a classical violinist at the Cleveland Institute of Music, later returning to Toronto to play with the legendary Jeff Healey. A musician of astonishing range, he won a Grammy as a producer and performs worldwide on multiple instruments, among them viola, bandoneon, clarinet, mandolin and saxophone.
Jeremy Ledbetter is a composer and pianist who travels the globe seeking fascinating musical ideas to incorporate in his own work. For several years he lived in Trinidad and Tobago and became music director for calypso icon David Rudder. Jeremy approaches the music of other cultures with joy, curiosity and the deepest respect.
Rebekah Wolkstein, a passionate chamber musician, is a founding member of both Schmaltz & Pepper and the Payadora Tango Ensemble. She is first violinist of the Venuti String Orchestra, collaborates on multi-arts shows with other artists, and is writing a musical, The Yiddish Bullfighter, with Drew Jureeka and Shaina Silver-Baird.
Schmaltz & Pepper will open the Gallery Players 2026-2027 season on November 15, 2026, 3:00 p.m. in the Recital Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines.