Hop into the wonderland of Valeria’s Klezmer Chariot for a journey through joyous Eastern European moods! Let your feet jump high and your hands clap tight, following the beats of playful accordion and tuba topped by virtuosic and passionate clarinet improvisations. The ensemble’s repertoire includes exotic arrangements of Klezmer and Balkan melodies, Yiddish and Hebrew songs, as well as original Klezmer compositions, written by the lead clarinettist, Valeria Conte, an Italian musician who lived across all of Scandinavia and halted in Stockholm to create an energetic Klezmer band with vibrant and eclectic musicians.

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ABOUT US

Valeria’s Klezmer Chariot is a Stockholm-based Klezmer collective led by clarinettist and composer Valeria Conte together with tubist Stian Grimstad. The ensemble gathers a vibrant pool of musicians, with the line-up flexibly tailored to each event, repertoire, and venue.

Rooted in Eastern European Jewish musical traditions and enriched by Balkan, circus, and global influences, the Chariot moves effortlessly between joyous dance music, soulful song, and expressive improvisation. Playful accordion and tuba grooves support passionate clarinet lines and rich ensemble textures, inviting both deep listening and irresistible dancing.

Valeria’s Klezmer Chariot has received support from Kulturrådet (Swedish Arts Council) and Konstnärsnämnden (Swedish Arts Grants Committee), including verksamhetsbidrag for the ensemble’s ongoing activity and nationella minoritetsbidrag for dedicated projects within the Swedish Jewish national minority.

WHAT WE OFFER

We design programs for a wide range of occasions:

• Concerts in venues and festivals, featuring Klezmer, Yiddish and Hebrew songs, Balkan colours, and original compositions

• Festive sets for private parties, weddings, bar/bat mitzvas and celebrations, with plenty of danceable Klezmer and communal songs

• Thematic and “cultured” programs presenting Jewish culture, history, and stories through music, either broadly or focused on specific topics (e.g. particular regions, authors, rituals)

• Dance and singing workshops, where audiences learn traditional steps, nigunim, and Klezmer dance forms in an accessible and joyful way

Each program can be adapted to your context, whether you are a cultural institution, festival, community, or private host.

REPERTOIRES AND SPECIAL PROJECTS

Alongside our core Klezmer and Yiddish repertoire, we offer several dedicated artistic projects:

• Klezmer & Balkan: spirited arrangements of traditional melodies, dance tunes, and songs

• Original Klezmer: new compositions by bandleader and clarinettist Valeria Conte

• Jewish culture programs: curated concerts focusing on Jewish heritage, liturgical and secular song, and storytelling

• Circus theme repertoire: music tailored for circus-theatre productions, with playful, dramatic and atmospheric pieces

• Klezmer Meets Ragas: a cross-cultural project where Klezmer modes and Indian classical influences meet in improvisation and composition

These repertoires can be booked as complete programs or combined to create a unique evening.

ENSEMBLE FORMATS

The Chariot works as a flexible collective:

• Trio: clarinet, accordion, tuba – ideal for intimate venues, small stages, and mobile performances

• Quartet/quintet: adding drums/percussion and/or an extra melodic instrument – perfect for dance events and larger concerts

• Larger ensemble (up to septet and beyond): clarinet, trumpet, violin, viola, accordion, tuba, drums and guests – suited to festivals, bigger halls, and outdoor stages

We will happily advise you on the best format for your event and budget.

COLLECTIVE & CORE MEMBERS

Valeria’s Klezmer Chariot is built around:

• Valeria Conte – clarinet, bass clarinet, vocal, composer and bandleader

• Stian Grimstad – tuba, sitar

Around this core, a circle of guest musicians (accordionists, string players, brass, keyboards, percussion, drums) are invited to join, depending on the event, concept, and repertoire. The collective structure gives each project a tailored sound while maintaining a recognisable artistic identity.

In the years, we were joined by Farshid Dalir, Simona Abdallah, Mitia Khramtsov, Yanush Hurwitz, Ilana Cravitz, and Cantor Yuval Hed.

SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS

The Chariot has collaborated with Jewish communities, cultural institutions, and interdisciplinary theatre projects in Sweden and abroad, including:

• Performances and workshops with Limmud Stockholm, Paideia folkhögskola, and the Jewish Community of Stockholm (Judiska Församlingen)

• Representation of the Swedish Jewish National Minority at the "5 Folk Festival" (2022)

• Poland tour with the circus-music-theatre performance “Śladami Singera – Following I. B. Singer’s Traces” by Teatr NN, Lublin (2023)

• Concert and dance workshop at the Jewish Culture Festival in Klaipėda, Lithuania (2023)

• Western Lithuania tour with multiple concerts across cities and towns (2024)

• Participation in EFO – European Friendship Orchestra, a circus-theatre production by Terrastella Scen och Film, funded by the Swedish Arts Council and Musikverket (2020-2024)

• Supporting band and organisers for the Open-Air Klezmer Jam Sessions (OAKJS) in Stockholm (2020-nowadays)

LISTEN TO OUR MUSIC ON: SPOTIFY - SOUNDCLOUD - YOUTUBE

MUSIC IN THE TALMUD - Extract from the homonymous storytelling & music performance presented in 2024. 
LIVE IN LITHUANIA 2024 - Recorded live while touring Lithuania in September 2024, released July 7th, 2025.
IN VALD (in the forest) - Commissioned by Epidemic Sound, released on March 18th, 2022.
AT SEA - Commissioned by Epidemic Sound, released on May 20th, 2022.

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