East of the River, founded by internationally-renowned recorder players Nina Stern and Daphna Mor, explores the virtuosic and haunting melodies of the Sephardic diaspora, the traditions of the Middle East, Armenia, North Africa and the Balkans as well as the timeless gems of the Medieval European classical repertory. East of the River’s music is arranged and interpreted by musicians steeped in jazz, folk and classical traditions.
The group has performed on concert series at the National Gallery of Art (Washington D.C.), Chautauqua Institution, San Francisco Society for Early Music, Seattle Early Music, Da Camera Society (Los Angeles), Early Music Now (Milwaukee), Madison Early Music Festival, Academy of Early Music (Ann Arbor), Indianapolis Early Music, Five Boroughs Music Festival (New York, NY), Peak Performances (Montclair State University), the Logan Series at Penn State Erie, and in New York City venues as varied as Bargemusic, Joe’s Pub, Le Poisson Rouge, and the Brooklyn Public Library. East of the River has been featured on several occasions at WQXR’s annual Chanukah celebration at The Greene Space.
Stern and Mor, called “recorder virtuosos” by The New York Times, each have impressive careers as soloists and chamber music players and have appeared as a duo with the New York Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Music Before 1800, The American Classical Orchestra, and at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine’s renowned New Year’s Eve concert for Peace. In East of the River, Stern and Mor are often joined by acclaimed performers such as Ara Dinkjian on oud, Shane Shanahan and John Hadfield on percussion, Zafer Tawil on violin, Tamer Pinarbasi on kanun, Kane Mathis on oud and kora, Tal Masiasch on bass. East of the River’s various musicians have recorded and performed with artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Philip Glass, Jordi Savall, Sting, Natalie Merchant, Paul Simon, Joyce DiDonato.
East of the River has recorded three albums: its self-titled debut album, Levantera, and Ija Mia, recently released on AVIE.