Welcome to the 2008 Jewish Music Festival

Katja Cooper originally trained on violin and studied Afro-Latin percussion in Amsterdam where she finished high school. In 1986 Katja traveled to Israel pursuing a musical career as a performer, recording artist, workshop leader, and accompanist for modern dance companies. She regularly performed on Israeli National television and radio with the top-chart pop artist Rami Kleinstein. She joined forces with Cubason from the Caribbean, Sharon Katz’ Peace Train Project from South Africa, White Flag of Palestine/Israel, and participated with visiting artists such as Gilberto Gil from Brazil and La Tati from Spain. After 15 years in the Mediterranean, she toured with Praful in Holland and recorded with Coco Linares/Cecilia Baraza in Peru before returning to the Bay Area where she collaborated with the pickpocket Ensemble and Lichi Fuentes. She has been a guest musician with Rosa Los Santos, Wild Mango, Rolando Morales, Carlos Reyes and Victoria Iglesias Flamenco Dance Company.