ERIC STEIN (mandolin, mandocello)

Beyond the Pale’s founder and leader, Eric Stein’s unique mandolin style and sharp musical vision have guided BTP throughout its history. A versatile multi-instrumentalist (mandolin, bass, cimbalom), Eric’s eclectic tastes and background in rock, funk and bluegrass are always evident, particularly in his award-winning, genre-bending original compositions. Eric’s deep knowledge of klezmer music has earned him stature not only as a performing artist with numerous groups (BTP, Hu Tsa Tsa, Socalled, Tio Chorinho, Toronto Mandolin Orchestra), but as a leading lecturer, educator, and artistic curator in the contemporary Jewish music world. Since 2006 Eric has served as Artistic Director of Toronto’s Ashkenaz Festival, North America’s largest festival of Yiddish and Jewish culture. Eric is also a longtime faculty member at Montreal’s KlezKanada Festival,  has taught at KlezKamp, and leads a weekly klezmer ensemble workshop at Toronto’s downtown JCC.  Eric has also performed as orchestral soloist with a number of chamber groups and symphonies, including National Arts Orchestra, I Musici de Montreal, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Toronto Philharmonia, and others. Eric was educated at McGill University (B.A., M.A).

OTHER PROJECTS

Tio Chorinho – Brazilian choro music

Ashkenaz Festival – North America’s largest Jewish music/culture festival