Bar & Bat Mitzvah Services

Shir - Traditional Jewish Music

Shir is the "complete" Jewish music group playing Klezmer, Israeli, Yiddish, Sephardi, Mizrahi, Ladino and Simcha instrumental, vocal and dance music that provides a spontaneous, energetic and soulful Jewish musical experience at any party or concert situation.

We provide music for the Reception, Simcha dancing, background music for dinner, our speciality Israeli "led dancing" - which never fails to bring everyone onto the dance floor -  and a disco to end the evening.

At weddings we provide a warm traditional Jewish atmosphere with Chuppah music before, during (Chazzanut included), after the ceremony and of course for the reception and party afterwards.

Formed in 1997 by Maurice Chernick, the group has been offering quality Jewish music at concerts and charity events in the UK, and at numerous Simchas thereby fulfilling the original function of the Klezmorim.

For the past 3 years Shir has been performing regularly in Spain (Madrid and Santander), and last summer were at festivals in Madrid and Cordoba at the invitation of Casa Sefarad (a Jewish Cultural department of the Spanish Ministry of Culture).

Shir was invited to play at the Salute To Israel in Trafalgar Square, the Kindertransport 70th Reunion, the Maccabi GB 70th Gala and Limmud in the UK and Holland, and won the Best Yiddish Song Performance Prize at the International Jewish Music Festival 2010 in Amsterdam.

The group has recorded 3 Cds: "From The Heart", "Israeli Songs", and their latest recording, "Ashk'farad", a collection of Klezmer and Ladino songs and instrumentals. All CDs are available from Shir's website and as downloads.

Among other cities, Shir - Traditional Jewish Music may serve the following areas: London, East London, South London, West London, North London, Central London, London, North west London, Golders Green, Finchley, Hampstead, Edgware, Barnet, Bushey, Radlet, Borehamwood, Elstree, Stanmore, Mill Hill, Ilford, edbridge, Chigwell, Essex

Alan Haymes from Redbridge, Essex - 22/06/2011 03:30:28

"Dear Ivor, just a quick note to thank you and Shir for playing at my daughter’s chuppah on Sunday 19th June 2011 at Tewin Bury Farm and arranging things at such short notice – your music added the magic to a wonderful day and made the chuppah very memorable – even our non-Jewish friends commented, one of which told me he was going to buy a CD from your website so you obviously made a great impression upon everybody and more importantly on the bride and groom themselves who told me that they will treasure that moment for a very long time."

Alison from Oxford from Oxford - 20/06/2011 11:59:55

"Shir have entertained our guests at my sons' barmitzvahs and I can't recommend them highly enough. Our guests were a diverse bunch of people and it was vital that the music gave a sense of togetherness to the occasion. This SHIR did, apparently effortlessly producing the right sound at the right moment: they didn't overpower conversation during the meal, they did guide the dancing in all its forms, Israeli, traditional, folk and klezmer, they did a background for Havdallah which was perfectly suitable to enhance it. We look forward to any event at which they are performing. I have also had the pleasure of hearing them perform their music in concert format, and it is well worth making time for. You will not be sorry."

Rachel from London - 12/06/2011 10:46:16

"Having heard and seen Shir perform at a number of simchas, we were keen to book them for our daughter's bat mitzvah. They played throughout the ceremony, traditional clezma as well as ladino songs and more traditional songs also. They totally brought the cermony together and held different parts of it together with their beautiful sounds. The party afterwards was sensational - with the most fantastic and energetic Israeli dancing, which continued later on with Maurice's fabulous calling for lesser known israeli dances. The warmth of the band shines through everything they do, they are complete professionals and perfectionists. We knew the simcha was in safe hands and I would thoroughly recommend Shir for any type of simcha as they are so accommodating to your individual needs."