Sonia Tubridy, accordion, grew up in NYC and Israel, receiving classical training as a pianist and conductor at the Tel Aviv Music Academy. Living on Kibbutz Hazorea as a high school student, she also became an accordionist, playing every Friday night for folk dancing. Since moving to Guerneville in 1975, she has been active as a piano teacher, accompanist, chamber musician, director of the River Choir and local children's choirs and music director for many theaters. Recent theater projects have been Chutzpah for WCTAG and Songs of Edith Piaf for Cinnabar Theater. She is also co-founder of the Coffee Concert chamber music series. As an accordionist, Sonia is a member of Klezmer ensemble Jubilee. She is Cultural Coordinator of Russian River Jewish Community. In her spare time she studies cello and banjo.
Mark Peabody, acoustic bass, resides in Petaluma. For many years Mark directed the music department at San Rafael High School, bringing their jazz band to first place in numerous state wide championships. He directs the school of the arts at Novato High School, and in addition he designed and founded the Marin School of the Arts, which is thriving under his leadership. Mark's thirty year career as a bass player spans a wide range of musical styles including classical, jazz, rock and roll, East Indian and Indonesian gamelan music. He is a long standing member of the Santa Rosa Symphony.
Phil Lawrence has been playing mandolin since 1978 when he bought his first round back mandolin on a whim. He began studying with Rudy Cipolla, the San Francisco Italian-American composer and mandolinist. Phil was invited by David Grisman and Mike Marshall to work as an assistant instructor at David Grisman’s Mandolin Symposium in Santa Cruz, Ca. and he performed on stage with David Grisman, Mike Marshall, Chris Thile, Mike Compton, Don Stiernberg, and Radim Zenkl. His Mandolin Mezzotints CD is still available. Currently he performs with The Phil Lawrence Band , an acoustic jazz quartet featuring David LaFlamme from It's a Beautiful Day on violin, and with Jubilee Klezmer Ensemble. He also has recorded Mandolin Mandalas with Lisa Sangita Moskow. Phil makes his home in Sonoma County, California, one hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge, where he teaches mandolin between gigs.
Paul Alexander, clarinet, is a native of New York City and currently resides in Petaluma. He started learning to play the clarinet at the age of ten. He trained in classical music, but also enjoys wailing in the swing style of Benny Goodman. Paul has played with Sonoma State Orchestra, The Rohnert Park Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, and numerous chamber groups in the Bay Area. He played klezmer and Israeli dance music with Limonim and then the Red Hot Chachkas. Paul founded Jubilee Klezmer Ensemble in the year 2000.
Alby Kass, vocalist, grew up in New York City, learning and singing Yiddish songs with his mother. He sings Yiddish songs, both in concert and at home. For four years he played the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at a variety of venues in Sonoma County. He also played a leading role in Chutzpah, a play by local playwright, Pauline Pfandler about the lives of the early Jewish chicken farmers in Petaluma. Alby has been singing in the River Choir in Guerneville for 30 years, and is delighted to be associated with the Jubilee Klezmer Ensemble.