Mendy Hershkowitz's musical life began in Kiryas Joel, where curiosity, attentive listening, and persistent self-directed study gradually became professional mastery. From those beginnings, he developed as a bandleader and arranger, founded the Freilach Band, and built a musical language that joins inherited sound with disciplined experimentation.
In his long-form interview, he describes the tools available during his early years, the mentors who widened his understanding, and the responsibility he feels toward both musical tradition and a living audience.
Videos in this collection
▶Long-form interview
Living Lchaim
Mendy Hershkowitz describes growing up in Monroe, discovering music, learning his craft, building the Freilach Band, and balancing innovation with inherited musical language.
MusicUpbringingWork
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▶Community musical production
Shira Choir with Shloma Zalmen Horowitz and Mendy Hershkowitz Band
A polished performance of a Chabad niggun by artists deeply connected to the Satmar and wider Hasidic music world.
MusicHasidic exchangePerformance
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▶Community musical production
Shira Choir and collaborating artists
A large ensemble carries Satmar melodies through contemporary arranging, vocal craft, and communal memory.
MusicMesorahGathering
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