Touring Highlights

Like performances around the globe, almost all of Maxwell Street's performances were postponed or cancelled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020-2021. 

 

2020 

  • “Irving Berlin: The Ultimate Jewish Immigrant” with Charles Troy, Scottsdale, AZ

  • Alex was selected as a soloist in a virtual worldwide event, “Beregovski's Musical Treasures: 35 Klezmer Fiddlers: 12 Countries, 158 Nigunim.”  

  • Outdoor Socially Distanced Concert: Sheridan Music Studios, Highland Park

  • Livestream Concert via Zoom for Chicago YIVO 

 

2019

  • “The Creation of Fiddler on the Roof” with Charles Troy, Scottsdale, AZ

  • Hanukkah with Rabbi Joe Black, North Shore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, IL

  • “Sukkot on Maxwell Street Market, Chicago, IL

  • YIVO Summer Series, Northbrook Library, IL

  • LGBTQ Fundraiser with Pete Buttigieg, Chicago, IL

  • JUF Cultural Council 50th Anniversary Gala, Grand Rapids, MI

 

2018

  • Greater Chicago Jewish Festival

  • Benefit Concert for Ralph Wilder, Oakton Community College, Skokie, IL

​

2017

  • February 20: NPR Station WBEZ, “Worldview”

  • Salaam-Shalom Music Project

  • Navy Pier, Chicago, IL

  • “The Whole Megillah: The History of Yiddish Theater with Charles Troy,” Temple Chai, Long Grove, IL 

  • “Music at Moser” Performing Arts Series, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL

  • International Convention of the Federation of Cantors, Westmont, IL

  • Salaam-Shalom Music Project, SPACE Evanston, IL

  • "History, Klezmer and Horas! The Journey of Jewish Music from Europe to America," Kol Hadash Congregation, Highland Park, IL

  • Concerts in Northbrook, Peoria, Evanston, Skokie, Long Grove, 

  • Salaam-Shalom Music Project, Congregation Etz Chaim, Lombard, IL

  • “Wintertanz,” Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah, Wilmette, IL

  • Congregations Agudas Achim and Anshe Emeth, Peoria, IL 

  • Salaam-Shalom Music Project, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL

  • “Winter Wonderland Express,” Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL

​

2016

  • Awards: 2016 Skokie Artist of the Year Award

  • Salaam-Shalom Music Project: SPACE Evanston and “Quarterly Inter-Religious Celebration,” DePaul University, Chicago, IL

  • City Winery, Chicago

  • Concerts in Skokie, Highland Park, 

  • “Music in the Square,”Woodstock Opera House, Woodstock, IL

  • North Shore Center for the Performing Arts 20th Anniversary Celebration, Skokie, IL

  • The Whole Megillah: The Story of the Yiddish Theater,” Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI

  • Hanukkah with Rabbi Joe Black and the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band 

  • Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL

  • “Harmony in the Holy Land” All-Day Seminar and Concert on Middle Eastern Music, Salaam-Shalom Music Project, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, WI

  • “Wintertanz,” Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah, Wilmette, IL

  • Live Broadcast, WFMT/FM, “Folkstage,” The Midnight Special Annual Hanukkah Program, Chicago, IL

  • “Winter Wonderland Express” Concerts, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL

 

2015

  • ​ Chicago Lyric Opera "The Property: An Original Klezmer Opera”

  • “The Whole Megillah: The History of Yiddish Theater” with Charles Troy: Jacksonville and Palk Harbor, Florida, and Skokie Theatre, Skokie, IL

  • Live in Concert: WTTW Public Television 

  • “Klezmer Cabaret,” Metropolis Performing Art Center Arlington Heights, IL

  • Hanukkah Concerts, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA

  • “Winter Wonderland Express” Concerts, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL

 

2014

  • Tulsa Children's Museum Family Concert Series, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, OK

  • “Klezmer Rhapsody,” Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Symphony Center, Chicago, IL

  • Yiddish Festival, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI

  • ​"The Whole Megillah: The Story of Yiddish Theater,” South Bend, IN

  • Celtic Arts Celebration Siamsa Na Ngael “If it Wasn’t for the Irish and the Jews,” Old St. Pat’s, Chicago

  • Hanukkah Concerts, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA

  • Evanston In-School Music Association (ESIMA), Evanston, IL

  • Yiddish Festival of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI 

  • And concerts in Mundelein, Skokie, Highland Park, Addison, Chicago, Park Ridge, IL and Three Oak, MI

  • “Winter Wonderland Express” Concerts, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL

​

2013

  • KlezmerFest, Louisville, KY

  • Maxwell Street Klezmer Band 30th Anniversary Concert, Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago

  • Presidential Inaugural Ball, Democratic Party of Evanston, IL

  • "Chicago Reflections," Northwestern University, Pick-Staiger Hall

  • "American Klezmer,"  musical by Ilya Levinson, Evanston, IL

  • City Winery Klezmer Brunch, Chicago

  • Loyola Academy High School "Diversity Week"

  • "Yiddishfest" Milwaukee, WI

  • Salaam-Shalom Music Project,  Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement, Chicago

  • Maxwell Street 30th Anniversary, Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL 

  • Concerts in Homewood, Highland Park, Arlington Heights, Wilmette and Skokie, IL and in Milwaukee, WI

  • “Winter Wonderland Express” Concerts, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL

​

2012

  • Jacksonville Jewish Center, Jacksonville, Florida

  • LGBTQ Fundraiser with Michelle Obama

  • Klezmer Dance Master Dancin' Steve Weintraub Leads Old-Country Dances, International Arts Festival Madden Arts Center, Decatur, IL 

  • Monthly "Klezmer Brunch,” City Winery, Chicago, IL 

  • Two Rivers Ethnic Festival, Two Rivers, WI 

  • Concerts in Highland Park, Lincolnwood, Skokie, Des Plaines, Orland Park, and Oak Park, IL 

  • Art Institute Wreathing of the Lions, Chicago

  • “Winter Wonderland Express” Concerts, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL

 

2011

  • “Eight Nights of Joy with Rabbi Joe Black,” Denver, CO

  • Salaam-Shalom Music Project, Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago

  • 10th Anniversary of Atrium Theater, at Christian Heritage Academy, Northfield, IL

  • Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL;

  • Maurice Sendak Exhibit at Highland Park and Oak Park Libraries, IL

  • Hanukkah Concert, Art Institute, Chicago, IL

  • “Winter Wonderland Express” Concerts, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL

 

2010

  • Opening of Chagall Windows Special Exhibit, Art Institute, Chicago

  • July 4th Parades in Skokie and Highland Park (and every year till 2021 except Pandemic)

  • Klezmer Festival, Kansas City, MO 

  • Purdue University, Notre Dame, IN

  • Art Institute of Chicago Holiday Concert

  • WFMT's "Introductions" Broadcast with the Junior Klezmer Orchestra

​

2009

  • ​“Eight Nights of Joy” with Rabbi Joe Black, Albuquerque, NM.

  • Munich Klezmer Festival, Germany

  • Tolerance Center, Vilnius, Lithuania

  • “Atataria lamzdžiai” Folk Music Festival, Kaunas Military Hall, Kaunas, Lithuania

  • Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Reno, Nevada

  • Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign-Urbana, IL

  • Bradley University, Peoria, IL

  • Hanukkah Concert, Art Institute, Chicago, IL

  • WFMT/FM's "Folk Stage" Hanukkah Broadcast

 

2008

  • Band’s 25th Anniversary Concert: “Folk Stage” (WFMT/FM, Midnight Special) 

  • North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie, IL

  • “Eight Nights of Joy” with Rabbi Joe Black, Albuquerque, NM

  • “Chicago Tonight,” WTTW Chicago Public Television and WBEZ Chicago Public Radio

  • LGBTQ Fundraiser with Sen. Barack Obama for President

  • Record Release Party: "Eight Nights of Joy" with Rabbi Joe Black, Barnes and Noble, Skokie

  • Timothy Christian High School, Elmhurst, IL

  • Opera House, Sandwich, IL

  • Concerts: Normal, Highland Park, Hoffman Estates, Long Grove, Schaumburg, Evanston, Oak Brook, Skokie, IL, 

  • Two Rivers Folk Festival, Two Rivers, WI

  • Chicago Summerdance, Chicago, IL

 

2007

  • Furth Klezmer Festival, Furth, Germany

  • North Miami Beach, FL

  • “River Music Experience,” Davenport, IA

  • Concerts in Daley Plaza, Chicago; Romeoville, Schaumburg, Rockford, Evanston, Skokie, Arlington Heights, Lincolnshire IL and Beloit, WI

  • Winter Wonderland (Hanukkah) Concert, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL

  • Spertus Museum Gala Opening, Chicago

  • Art Institute of Chicago, “Wreathing of the Lions”

  • ​Live album taping of “Eight Nights of Joy” with Rabbi Joe Black, Temple Sholom, Chicago

​

2006

  • Workmen's Circle of New York, Damrosch Park, NY, NY

  • Genesis at the Crossroads Interfaith Concert, Chicago, IL

  • World Folk Music Festival, Chicago, IL

  • Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • “Chagall’s Fiddler and Friends, ”Art Institute, Chicago, IL

  • Concerts in Evanston, Niles, Skokie, Highland Park, Schaumburg, IL and Kalamazoo and Mequon, WI

  • Chicago: “Great Performers of Illinois,” Millennium Park; Daley Plaza; Chicago Public Library

  • “Wonderland Express” Holiday Concert: Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL

 

2005

  • KlezVienna Festival, Austria

  • Congregation Oheb Shalom, South Orange, New Jersey, klezmer workshops and concert

  • Schauer Arts Center, Hartford, Wisconsin

  •  Jewish Music Festival, JCC, West Bloomfield, Michigan

​

2004

  • The Boca Raton Jewish Music Festival, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL

  • Temple Israel, Omaha, Nebraska

  • ​Concerts for Villages of River Grove, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Highland Park, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Arlington Heights, Evanston, IL and Milwaukee, WI

  • Annual Dinner for Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies

 

2003

  • Shryock Auditorium, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL

  • Genesis at the Crossroads Arab-Jewish Arts Concert

  • Concerts: Skokie, Evanston, Highland Park, River Grove, Palos Heights

  • "Celebrations" Holiday Concert, Chicago Botanic Gardens, Glencoe, IL (2003-2018)

 

2002

  • Forde Folk Music Festival, Norway

  • Kultursommer Nordhessen and Mittelhessen, Germany 

  • Chicago Summerdance Series, Grant Park, Chicago, IL

  • Concerts in 24 Schools (EISMA, Evanston, IL)

  • Released fourth album, “Old Roots, New World” (Shanachie Entertainment Corp.)

  • 2002 Music for soundtrack: ABC Network Television, “State of Grace”

 

2001

  • Festival of Jewish Culture, Munich, Germany

  • Klezmer Festival, Kansas City, MI

  • “A Night in Jerusalem,” Dallas, TX;

  • Tecumseh Civic Auditorium, Tecumseh, MI and Wariner Auditorium, Mount Pleasant, MI and West Bloomfield, MI

  • Genesis at the Crossroads Arab-Jewish Unity Concert (Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL)

 

2000

  • Kultursommer Festival, Kassel, Germany

  • 7th International Festival of Yiddish Music (Furth, Germany)

  • 2000 Live concert filming: Wild Chicago, WTTW Public Television

  •  “Do It Yourself Hanukkah” with David Broza and Rabbi Joe Black, broadcast on WTTW Public Television, Chicago

  • Jewish Arts Foundation, Palm Beach, Florida, 

  • Midwest Tour: Omaha, NB; Des Moines, IA; Grinnell, IA; Kirksville, MO; Milwaukee, WI; Grand Rapids, MI.

  • Genesis at the Crossroads Arab-Jewish Unity Concert (Chicago Cultural Center)

  • Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie, IL)

  • Monthly concerts at Zhivago Restaurant (until 2009)

  • Published Klezmer Band Book, Joy of Klez (Tara Publications)

 

​1999

  • Performance Art Series, U. of Judaism, Los Angeles, CA

  • Chicago Summerdance Festival 

  • Jewish Arts Festival, Dallas, TX

  • Premiere of “Klezmer Rhapsody” at Symphony Center Day of Music (Chicago)

  • Do-It Yourself Hanukkah, (Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago)

  • Staged original family musical, “Hershel and The Hanukkah Goblins” (North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie, IL)

  • Featured on “Wild Chicago” at Zhivago Restaurant (WTTW Public Television)

  • 1999 1/2 hour special: Artbeat Chicago, WTTW Public Television

 

1998

  • Carnegie Hall, New York

  • Sponsored and Performed in Midwest Klezmer and Yiddish Music Institute featuring Theodore Bikel (Skokie, Illinois)

  • Charleston Heights Art Center (Las Vegas, NV)

  • European Tour: London’s Barbican Theatre, Vienna’s Mozart-Saal, Munich, Amsterdam, The Hague, Enschede

​

​1997

  • “Do It Yourself Hanukkah” with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, and Debbie Friedman, for the Old Town School of Folk Music

  • Opened for Comedian Alan King (Skokie, IL)

  • Gindi Theater, University of Judaism (Los Angeles, California)

​

1996

  • The Knitting Factory (NY, NY)

  • Gindi Theater of the University of Judaism (LA, CA);

  • Sponsored and performed at the  Midwest Klezmer & Yiddish Music Institute (Skokie, IL)

  • “Do-It-Yourself-Hanukkah” with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, sponsored by the Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago

  • 1996 Two interviews w/live music on Aaron Freeman's Metropolis, WBEZ (NPR)

  • Released third album, “You Should Be So Lucky!” (Shanachie Entertainment Corp)

 

1995

  • Sponsored and performed at the Midwest Klezmer and Yiddish Music Institute (Skokie, IL)

  • Appeared on “World Stage Chicago,” WTTW Public Television

 

1994

  • Featured artist, 4th Festival of Jewish Music in Furth, Germany

 

  • 1993

  • Appeared on WGN/Channel 9 TV, “Chicago's Very Own”

​

1992

  • Graz Music Festival, Austria

  • Zurich JCC

  • Bern Municipal Museum (Switzerland)

  • Released second album, “Sweet Early Years” (formerly “Maxwell Street Wedding”)

​

1989

  • Alex Koffman immigrates from Minsk, Belarus (USSR), becomes band’s keyboardist, then violinist (1990), then musical director (1991)

 

1987

  • Café Continental bi-weekly concerts (until 1997)

  • Greater Chicago Jewish Arts Festival (and every other year until Pandemic)

 

1986

  • Released first album (as LP): “Maxwell Street Days”

 

1984-1985

  • Two Interviews, The Studs Terkel Show, WFMT/FM

  • University of Chicago Folk Festival

 

1983

Lori Lippitz founds the band