Klezmer Celebration
Join Jason McKinney on August 11 for a free Latte & Learn discussion ahead of this concert.
Jason McKinney, vocals, clarinet; Karon McKinney, vocals; Charley Shafer, violin; Mark Dillon, accordion; Matt Kendrick, bass; John Wilson, drums
Experience the joy, spirit, and irresistible energy of traditional Jewish music in Klezmer Celebration, an evening filled with lively dance tunes, heartfelt melodies, and vibrant cultural traditions. Rooted in the folk music of Eastern European Jewish communities, klezmer blends exuberant rhythms with expressive lyricism, creating music that moves seamlessly from celebration and laughter to reflection and longing.
Led by vocalist and clarinetist Jason McKinney and vocalist Karon McKinney, this outstanding ensemble brings authenticity, warmth, and infectious enthusiasm to the stage. Violinist Charley Shafer and accordionist Mark Dillon add rich color and spirited virtuosity, while bassist Matt Kendrick and drummer John Wilson provide the driving pulse and rhythmic energy that make this music impossible to resist.
Featuring traditional favorites along with fresh interpretations of classic klezmer repertoire, Klezmer Celebration invites audiences into a musical world of community, storytelling, and joyful expression. Whether through soaring clarinet melodies, spirited dance rhythms, or soulful songs, this concert promises an uplifting and unforgettable evening of music and culture.
Jason McKinney is a bass-baritone vocalist, conductor, composer, and cantorial soloist based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he studied voice, conducting, and composition at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he trained with Marilyn Taylor, Glenn Siebert, James Allbritten, and Kenneth Frazelle.
McKinney has built an international performing career in opera, concert, and sacred music, appearing at venues including the Kennedy Center, the White House, the Semper Opera House in Dresden, Hamburgische Staatsoper, and Teatro Massimo Bellini in Sicily. He has performed major operatic roles in works such as Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro, La Bohème, La Traviata, and Porgy and Bess.
In Winston-Salem, he is especially known for his work as Music Director and Cantorial Soloist at Temple Emanuel, where he has led worship and developed Jewish liturgical music programs for many years. He has also served as a resident artist and section leader at Centenary United Methodist Church.
Beyond performance, McKinney is active as a composer, educator, actor, and community leader. His original theatrical and recital works include Moments with Paul, centered on Paul Robeson, as well as projects portraying historical figures such as Malcolm X and Frederick Douglass. He also co-authored the children’s book Jason Belongs and has served as chair of Winston-Salem’s Human Relations Commission.
Karon Click has been chasing that siren song from classical roots to the rich, expressive depths of jazz, soul, and beyond. Her voice moves effortlessly from Mendelssohn to Marvin Gaye, from sacred to sultry, carrying audiences through stories that are as emotionally resonant as they are musically dynamic. Whether in an intimate lounge or on the concert stage, she brings a presence that is both disarming and electric.
A musician, curator, and community builder, Karon is the co-founder of Siren Series Jazz, a platform now in its fifth year dedicated to elevating female and female-identifying musicians in jazz. Through this work, she creates space for artists to refine their craft, collaborate boldly, and find their authentic voice.
Jazz has taken her to stages around the world, from Budapest to New Orleans, shaping a sound that is both timeless and deeply personal. She treasures the opportunity to share the stage with her husband, bass-baritone Jason McKinney, bringing an added layer of joy to this performance.
At the heart of it all is Karon’s deep belief in the transformative power of music. Whether she’s on stage or building community, she invites listeners into an experience that lingers—warm, vibrant, and just a little bit irresistible.
PROGRAM NOTES
https://www.iemj.org/en/klezmer-music-from-the-past-to-the-present/
Klezmer is an instrumental music for celebrations which was once performed in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe at weddings or joyous religious celebrations, such as Purim, Simhat Torah, or for the inauguration of a new synagogue. Like most of musical Jewish traditions, klezmer is a music of exile strongly marked by its geographical and cultural environment. But in Eastern Europe, consisting of many different people and languages, this environment was constantly changing. Klezmer music therefore took from here and there, and developed a rich and pluralistic practice which never stopped developing through time and space.
To speak today of the klezmer phenomena, is therefore to study how a musical genre is born, evolve and transforms through history. It’s also to consider the music in a given society and the interaction between these two elements.
- DATE & TIME
- LOCATION
- COST
$25 General
$10 Students/Children