The Museum of Russian Art invites you to an intimate evening of music with celebrated guitarist and singer Vanya Zhuk.
Born in St. Petersburg, shaped by Moscow’s music scene, and now based in Israel, Zhuk brings decades of tradition and innovation to the stage—one chord, one story, and one song at a time.
Zhuk performs folk songs in Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew, Romani, and English, delivered in a powerful, deeply personal style. His guitar playing—sometimes described as Eastern European blues—blends raw emotion with virtuosic technique, drawing from Romani, klezmer, and classical traditions.
A classically trained musician, Zhuk studied the seven-string guitar in Moscow with Romani master San Sanych Kolpakov, mentor to Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello. He has performed and recorded with klezmer icons Daniel Kahn and Frank London, and is a beloved figure in the international klezmer revival.
Expect the unexpected—Zhuk’s performances are known for their warmth, wit, and spontaneous moments of singalongs and joyful dancing (optional, but welcome).
“I came to the gig because I heard Vanya on a few klezmer records of my friends, and was intrigued by his guitar playing, which had a chunky, quick, slightly off-kilter avant-garde sound and was also possessed by other ingredients I couldn’t discern until that evening, when he spoke all of his and all of my languages, and told stories of his Romani guitar teacher.”
—Jake Marmer, poet
Special thanks to Lev Frayman for his collaboration and for arranging this concert with TMORA.
*Photo credit Oksana Surzhko
Wednesday, June 4 | 7:30 PM
Doors open at 6:30 PM, TMORA Shop and all galleries will be open for viewing prior to the concert. Seating is general admission.
Tickets:
- TMORA Members: $20 (advance or day-of)
- General Admission (Advance): $25
- General Admission (Day-of): $30
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Parking:
Free parking is available directly across the street from the museum in the Creekside (formerly Mayflower) Church parking lot. Additional free parking can be found on surrounding residential streets.
