Rebekah is a passionate chamber musician and a multi-award winning creative force in the Canadian music scene. She is the founder and leader of Payadora Tango Ensemble, co-founder of Schmaltz & Pepper and first violinist of the Venuti String Quartet. In the spring of 2023, Payadora’s third and latest CD, the critically acclaimed “Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango” which features Rebekah’s violin playing and compositions, reached #1 on the World Music Charts in Europe, accompanied by rave reviews, airtime, and press coverage around the globe, including the BBC, CTV, CBC television and radio, the Bangkok Post, NPR, and RTE Irish Public Radio. “…The most memorable release I have ever had the privilege to listen to and review” (WholeNote Magazine). They have been named on “Best of” lists on NPR’s Rhythm Atlas, Finnish National Radio and CBC Classical.

Payadora won the German world music prize in 2024 (Weltmusikpreis Ruth award) and performed in the famous world music festival, Rudolstadt in July where they received the award. In 2023-2024, Payadora toured Hungary, Spain and Denmark, Brazil, Argentina and throughout North America.Her creative output has led to multiple composing and recording grants through Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council. She directs multi-disciplinary projects such as The Legend of Carau, a feature for Payadora. She has performed and toured extensively with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The National Ballet of Canada, The Canadian Opera Company. She is the first violinist of the Venuti String Quartet which will be releasing their debut album in March 2025.

An active studio musician, Rebekah is also at home playing in the styles of Folk, Klezmer, Pop, Latin, and Jazz and can be heard on numerous recordings including new releases by Donovan Woods, Laila Biali, Royal Wood and Justin Gray.  

Aside from her active performing career, Rebekah holds a Doctorate in Violin Performance from the University of Toronto as well as degrees in violin from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Celebrated for her stunning virtuosity, nuance and broad musical versatility, violinist Rebekah Wolkstein has established a strong presence on the Toronto music scene. As a classical violinist Rebekah has performed and toured extensively with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The National Ballet of Canada, The Canadian Opera Company, and in recitals with famous baritone, Russell Braun.

An active studio musician, Rebekah is also at home playing folk, klezmer, pop, latin and jazz and can be heard on numerous Juno winning albums, often performing Drew Jurecka’s string arrangements with her string quartet, the Venuti String Quartet. Aside from her active performing career, Rebekah holds a doctorate in violin performance from the University of Toronto as well as degrees in violin from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Rebekah’s ensembles are mainstays in classical music series and have sold out shows and for Toronto Summer Music, Music and Beyond, Ottawa Chamberfest, Stratford Summer Music, Indian River Music Festival, Leith Festival, London’s Grand Theatre, Music in the Morning in Vancouver, Vancouver Island Music Festival and National Arts Centre.

She will be featured as a violinist/vocalist and guitarist in Grammy nominated “Yiddish Glory’s upcoming album.

Rebekah also enjoys performing on her hardanger fiddle, a beautiful and resonant nine-string Norwegian instrument.

Rebekah is also a composer and songwriter and has received grants from the Toronto Arts Council and Ontario Arts Councils to compose for Payadora. She also writes jazz and musical theatre songs and is currently writing a musical.