Vilde Katshke, Yiddish for: wild duck, is best described as a gleeful blend of klezmer music and Jewish tales. This klezmer trio was founded in early 1998 by musician, story-teller and author Gottfrid van Eck, in an attempt to combine his love for klezmer and Jewish folklore. He intersperses his stories with clarinet pieces, with musical replies by Geleijn van der Ham on the accordion and Jiska ter Bals on the violin. This threesome of wild ducks produces quite a merry gaggle!

Vilde Katshke performs story-telling concerts at theatres, schools, libraries, churches, synagogues, care institutions and festivals. Performances during the National Storytelling Festival in Utrecht and the International Jewish Music Festival in The Hague and Amersfoort are just a few highlights. The trio regularly contributes to a variety of story-telling and musical festivals in the Netherlands. Vilde Katshke also play at weddings or wedding anniversaries and other special occasions. Anyone who hears their klezmer music, will be touched by it. It's joy to cry to and sadness to dance to!

Gottfrid van Eck, clarinet, bass clarinet, birbyne, soprano saxophone and tin whistle
Gottfrid van Eck, a theology MA, has been under the spell of klezmer music and Jewish tales for quite some time now. He is founder of Mazzeltov, one of the best-known Dutch klezmer bands, producing four cd's with them. Over the years he has specialized in theatrical story-telling, taking theatre courses and doing clown workshops. In addition, for three years he studied at the DJAM, a light music education centre. Finally, Gottfrid published a number of anthologies of Jewish stories. In 1998 he founded the klezmer trio Vilde Katshke.

Geleijn van der Ham, accordion
Geleijn van der Ham is a graduate of the Hilversum music academy, majoring in accordion and HaFa (Harmony orchestra/Fanfare orchestra) conducting. Apart from engaging in a full-time teaching practice in a number of music schools in the central Netherlands, he has been a performing musician for some years now, formerly with the Sirius Quintet (modern classical music) and the Lipa ensemble (music from the Balkans). He has been a member of Vilde Katshke since 2000.

Jiska ter Bals, violin
Jiska ter Bals studied classical violin at the Amsterdam and Rotterdam music academies. During her study years she already displayed a broad musical interest: Besides studying classical music she also played tango music, pop music and light music. After graduating she became fascinated by Jewish music, applying herself to it. In order to master this style, she travelled to international klezmer festivals in Germany, the US and Canada. Since 2003 she has been involved with Vilde Katshke. In addition, she plays klezmer in Di Fidl-Kapelye, and studies baroque violin with Antoinette Lohmann.