Yale Strom: Bringing Klezmer Music to San Diego Schools

Yale Strom is a San Diego-based violinist and leading authority on klezmer traditions of the Jewish and Roma communities of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. A versatile and prolific artist, Strom’s expertise spans roles as a musician, composer, ethnographer, filmmaker, educator, playwright, and more. He regularly performs in San Diego, New York, and internationally, with a broad portfolio of creative work, as detailed on his Wikipedia page.

Born in Detroit in 1957, Strom’s journey with the violin began at the age of eight, sparked by free music lessons offered in his primary school. Growing up in a musically rich family—his mother a pianist, his father an avid music lover—he was naturally drawn to the world of music. In 1982, he formed his first band, Hot Pstromi, a project that has been central to his artistic life. Based in both San Diego and New York, Strom continues to compose and perform with the group, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to his craft.

Through the CWM’s World Music in the Schools Assemblies program, Strom and his now-renowned band introduce students to the diverse sounds of klezmer, blending Khasidic nigunim (vocal music) with Romani, jazz, classical, Balkan, and Sephardic elements. Whether in school programs or the CWM’s Access to the Arts for Seniors, Strom enriches performances with storytelling, helping audiences—whether familiar with klezmer music or not—discover the depth and history of this vibrant musical tradition.

For more on Strom’s extensive achievements, visit his website at www.yalestrom.com.