International Jewish Music Festival, Amsterdam 3.71

The 20th International Jewish Music Festival in Amsterdam takes place from May 4-8, 2017. For full program and tickets go to www.ijmf.org

In 2008, IJMF hosted the first ever all-genre Jewish music* competition: over one hundred musicians came from around the world and played everything from Renaissance to Rap, from Classical to Klezmer, resulting in cash prizes, recording contracts and performing engagements.

In 2010, 24 ensembles were selected to participate in the 2nd edition of the competition. More than €70,000 worth of prizes in the form of bookings, recording contracts, agency representation, and prize money were awarded, and various foreign festival directors made bookings as a result of seeing ensembles in this unique showcase.

In 2012, twice as many programmers, record producers and festival directors attended, and 25 prizes were awarded to 12 of the 22 participating ensembles.

This year, the festival will include two days of Quarter Finals, one day of Semi Finals and a Grand Finale including a special concert by Israeli star Shiri Maimon.

*For the purposes of this competition, “Jewish music” is understood as inclusive of all musical genres - including classical, liturgical, folk, jazz, pop and world music - in which Jewish musical elements are clearly recognizable. Neither the musicians themselves nor the composers need be Jewish.