Internationally acclaimed jazz musician Oran Etkin invites young children to join his band and explore the world of jazz. With loads of audience interaction including singing, clapping, dancing and drumming, children see instruments come to life, and learn that making music means bringing their own character, humor and emotion along for the ride.
Oran Etkin’s unique background has made him a prime candidate to shake up the world of music education and entertainment.
Widely regarded as one of the top clarinetists and composers of his generation, Etkin was recently voted #1 rising star clarinetist in DownBeat Magazine’s Critic’s Poll, regularly performs at major jazz festivals internationally and has recorded on numerous albums including a GRAMMY Award Winning compilation.
His passion for music started early and by the age of nine he was playing piano, guitar, violin and saxophone. After falling in love with the music of Louis Armstrong, Etkin’s parents took him to visit New Orleans where the legendary Anthony “Tuba Fats” Lacen briefly took the young Etkin under his wing. Etkin’s passion for teaching springs from his gratitude to the teachers and mentors who shared the gift of music with him, including jazz masters such as Dave Liebman and Yusef Lateef, classical icons like Charles Neidich, Klezmer innovators such as Dave Krakauer and griot musicians from West Africa. As a touring musician, Etkin continues to work with traditional masters from many cultures, each of whom give him a fresh perspective on how to nurture a deep love and intuitive understanding of music in children. As Etkin tours the world, he gathers melodies, rhythms, stories and songs that he then shares with the Timbalooloo audiences, helping to connect children from diverse cultures through music.
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