Cabaret 2008 - Elaine Hoffman Watts

Elaine received a Transformation Award in 2007. Elaine is a third-generation klezmer drummer and was the first female graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in percussion in the 1950s. Growing up, she was a rarity as a female klezmer musician and is outspoken and vocal about her position. Elaine plays a specific repertoire of Eastern European Jewish folk music that can be traced back to one area of 19th century Ukraine through her father and grandfather, who brought the rhythm with them to the United States. While klezmer gained mainstream popularity for a brief time in the 1970s, Elaine’s family has continued to play their unique repertoire of traditional songs-no “world music“ or fusion- and by doing so she helps her community stay connected to important roots and memories.