​​​Ira Klein is a Brooklyn based guitarist, composer, and educator from Jerusalem. Specializing in Middle-Eastern music, American folk, and music for dance, he seamlessly combines a lifelong passion for musical traditions with a love of experimentation.​
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A recipient of numerous prestigious awards from foundations such as LABA New York, J Arts Boston, and Mass Cultural Council, Ira has appeared on NPR, WBGH, CBC, Jewish Renaissance, Haaretz, and Americana UK. He has performed with world-renowned artists including McArthur Fellow Claire Chase, saxophonist Neil Leonard, and guitarist Kevin Barry (Jackson Browne), and served as a music consultant to Intentional Beauty, the Judaica gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Ira has been invited to present visiting talks and clinics at Berklee, Harvard, Yale, Bard College, Berkeley Carroll School, and the Somerville Public Library.​He holds degrees from Berklee College of Music and Bard College, and is a certified K-12 educator.

 

​Teaching:

Berklee College of Music

92nd Street Y

The Senesh School

Cambridge Music Consortium

Eliot Innovation School

Boston Latin School

Somerville Public Library

New England Harmonica and Guitar Intensive

Club Passim School Of Music

Concord Conservatory of Music

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Awards:

2025 LABA Fellowship, New York

2025 Artist Working Group, The Neighborhood, Brooklyn

2024 - 2025 Expert Pairings, City of Watertown, MA

2024 Arts and Culture Community Impact Grant, Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP)

2024 Cultural Council Grant, Somerville Cultural Council

2022 - 2024 Traditional Arts Apprentice in Blues Music (under Paul Rishell), Mass Cultural Council

2023 Cultural Sector Recovery Grant, Mass Cultural Council

2023 Cultural Council Grant, Cambridge Cultural Council

2023 Cultural Council Grant, Somerville Cultural Council

2022 - 2023 Community Creative Fellow, J Arts Boston

2022 Emerging Artist Award, St. Botolph Club Foundation

2022 Artist-in-Residence, Mt. Auburn Cemetery

2021 Recording Grant, Ministry of Culture and Sport, Israel

2021 Iguana Grant, Club Passim

2010 Best Young Jazz Band, Red Sea Jazz Festival, Eilat, Israel

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Education:

2022 - 2024 Master of Music (Music Education), Longy Conservatory, Bard College

2017 - 2020 Bachelor of Music, Berklee College of Music, with highest honors

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Scholarships:

2022 - 2024 Presidential Scholarship for Graduate Studies, Longy Conservatory, Bard College

2019 - 2020 Professional Music Department Achievement Award, Berklee College of Music

2018 - 2019 Fletcher Bright Endowed Scholarship in American Roots Music, Berklee College of Music

2017 - 2020 World Tour Scholarship, Berklee College of Music

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Performances and Lectures (selected):

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Mass MOCA

Harvard University

Yale University

Boston University

Berklee College of Music

New England Conservatory of Music

Longy Conservatory of Bard College

The Senesh School, Brooklyn, NY

Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn, NY

Concord Conservatory of Music

Greyfox Bluegrass Festival

Boston Arts and Music Soul Festival (BAMS Fest)

Cambridge Science Festival

Arrow Street Arts Festival

ArtBeat Festival

Folk Alliance International

Somerville Public Library

Boston Festival of New Jewish Music

Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP)

The Vilna Shul - Boston's Center for Jewish Culture

Hebrew College, Newton, MA

Temple Isaiah, Lexington MA

Congregation Kahal B'raira, Cambridge, MA

Congregation Kehillath Israel, Brookline, MA

Mount Auburn Cemetery

The Longfellow House Museum

Mosesian Center for the Arts

Boston Playwrights' Theatre

American Public Gardens Association

First Unitarian Church of Worcester

Union Baptist Church, Cambridge, MA

Bigelow Chapel, Cambridge, MA

The Owl Music Parlor, NY

Rockwood Music Hall, NY

Gallery P339, Brooklyn, NY

Sofar Sounds, NY

Atwood's Tavern

Club Passim

The Burren

The Lilypad

Warehouse XI

CultureHouse

The Dance Hall, Kittery, ME

Kable House Presents, York, PA

Sofar Sounds, Boston

The 'Quin House

St. Botolph Club

Earfull Concert Series, Boston

Scorpio Concert Series, Boston

Acousticool Concert Series

Red Sea Jazz Festival, Eilat, Israel

Animix International Animation Festival, Tel Aviv, Israel

Indie City Festival, Jerusalem, Israel

The Distillery Art Center, Jerusalem, Israel

HaMiffal Art Center, Jerusalem, Israel

Levontin 7, Tel Aviv, Israel

Shablul Jazz Club, Tel Aviv, Israel

Ozenbar, Tel Aviv, Israel

Mattat Art Gallery, Mattat, Israel

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