Celebrated for her stunning virtuosity, nuance and broad musical versatility, violinist Rebekah Wolkstein has established a strong presence internationally. The leader and and founding member of Payadora, a multi-genre chamber music ensemble which has performed across the globe, Rebekah is acclaimed for her playful banter, her heartfelt vocals and award-winning compositions which have been performed on the BBC, CBC and Classical FM. Her composition “Silent Tears” won the Yiddish Music awards. She has been awarded multiple grants from the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council to compose, record and perform.

As a classical violinist, Rebekah has performed and toured extensively with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The National Ballet of Canada, and the Canadian Opera Company. An active studio musician, Rebekah is also at home playing folk, klezmer, pop, Latin and jazz and can be heard on numerous Juno-Winning albums, often performing Drew Jurecka’s string arrangements with her string quartet, the Venuti String Quartet. Aside from her active performing career, Rebekah holds a doctorate in violin performance from the University of Toronto and degrees in violin from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Payadora has been accompanied by London Symphonia and Hannaford Street Silver Band. Highlights from Payadora’s past performances include sold-out shows at Music and Beyond, Ottawa Chamberfest, Indian River Music Festival in PEI, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival, Canadian Opera Company’s World Music Series, Stratford Summer Music Festival, Leith Festival in Owen Sound, Music in the Morning in Vancouver and Vancouver Island Music Festival.

They are currently collaborating with Grammy award-nominated Yiddish Glory in concerts and live TV broadcasts of Polish tango and with award-winning tango/ballet dancers, PointeTango. They have received a grant from the Ontario Arts Council to produce a full-length film of 11 pieces in collaboration with PointeTango. On April 21st, their remote performances for Confluence Concerts. Her compositions are featured in the films “Tango in the Dark” and “Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango”

Rebekah performs in the Rebekah Jurecka Duo and with her family. She also writes jazz and musical theatre songs and is currently writing a musical.