The Minsker Kapelye klezmer ensemble based in Minsk, Belarus, was started back in 2001 by Dr. Dmitri Slepovitch currently residing in the US, an ethnomusicologist, composer, pianist, and clarinetist. The band’s primary goal is to revive the musical heritage of Belarusian and Lithuanian Jewish communities. Minsker Kapelye are: Dmitri Slepovitch (clarinet, vocals, band leading), Violetta Korenkova (cello), Tatiana Kukel (Belarusian alto cymbalom). The ensemble’s repertoire is based on the material brought by Dr. Dmitri Slepovitch and Dr. Nina Stepanskaya from expeditions across Belarus, which have been carried out since 1997, as well as rare material discovered in archives of Belarus, Russia, and Lithuania.In 2002, Minsker Kapelye recorded its first CD, “A Fayerl far dem Hartznâ€, performing pieces from collections of M. Beregovsky, N. Findeyzen. D. Slepovitch, and N. Stepanskaya. The band’s second release was made in 2006 in Poland (“Minsk – Kielce – Berlinâ€, Ferment), together with Paul Brody’s “Sadawiâ€, under general title "Great Klezmers of East and West".The band's third CD, "The Locals/ Di Ortike" is about to be released by the end of the year 2008 in Poland."Minsker Kapelye" have repeatedly performed at klezmer, rock, and folk festivals, played at Jewish weddings, holidays, community, campus and club events in Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Poland. The ensemble performed together with such renowned musicians as Michael Alpert, Yale Strom, and Paul Brody.
