Mike Anklewicz is a versatile musician who performs, composes, arranges, and teaches in many different areas of music, ranging from classical to jazz to klezmer to the avant-garde. He has recorded and performed with distinguished artists in all of these genres. Mike leads KlezFactor, a "klezmer-fusion" band that plays both traditional and original compositions fusing Eastern European Jewish folk music with jazz, rock and classical musical techniques.

KlezFactor has been garnering international acclaim for their two albums. "Klezmachine", the most recent CD, has topped university radio charts in Ontario, and has also been played in Canada, the US, Argentina, France, Portugal, Spain and Russia. Mike is also the clarinettist with Zebrina, a band led by keyboardist Jonathan Feldman, which has performed all around Toronto. They will be recording their first album this fall with an Ontario Arts Council grant. Mike has also recently recorded with the Prague-based band, Eggnoise, and can be heard on their next CD scheduled for a spring/summer release.

Mike is also active as freelance woodwind player, and has performed in some of Toronto's top venues including Massey Hall, The Rex, and Harbourfront Centre.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, where he studied composition and saxophone performance. He also holds a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts in saxophone performance. He is currently a PhD candidate at York University, studying ethnomusicology.

Mike is currently a Faculty member at the Royal Conservatory of Music teaching studio saxophone. Please refer to the Conservatory for information about booking saxophone lessons.

To find out more about Mike Anklewicz as a teacher, performer or composer/arranger, please email mike@mikeanklewicz.com