Band History

Millie and the Mentshn (MTM) was founded in 2002 when Millie became inspired by journals written by her grandfather’s cousin, Morris Tenenbaum, born in 1896 in Lithuania. Morris kept detailed journals documenting his family’s history, from his parent’s arranged marriage, to their arrival and early life in the United States. They had such incredible struggles (surviving pogroms and traveling in the steerage compartment of a freighter carrying along jars of chicken schmaltz that was mixed with hot water and hard bread for kosher food on the very long journey to America), and yet the music and dancing described seemed to make their lives better. The descriptions were so vivid that Millie started to research the melodies that must have been playing in the background throughout their lives and she began to set the stories to music.

Since 2002, MTM has developed a number of programs of varying lengths, from dance music, to musical entertainment with stories, to full multimedia educational presentations with music, stories, and slides. Although MTM is based in Bellingham, WA, their performances have been well received in a variety of locations including Minnesota, Alaska, and Argentina.

‘Mentshn’ (sounds like mention) is plural for ‘mentsh’ (rhymes with bench), which in Yiddish means a person of integrity.

MTM Touring Highlights include:

Argentina

9 days of touring and playing various indoor and outdoor venues in Buenos Aires
See video from Klezfiesta

Minnesota

  • Concert Series at the Jewish Community Center in St. Paul
  • Centennial Celebration of the Rededication of B’nai Abraham, Virginia, MN
  • Minnesota History Center Concert Series Nine Nights of Music (MPR sponsor)
  • Theatre Or, Sabes Center Concert, Minneapolis JCC

Alaska

  • Davis Concert Hall in Fairbanks
  • Beluga Nights Summer Concert Series, Fairbanks
  • Congregation Beth Sholom, Anchorage

Idaho

  • Riverside Hotel, Sapphire Room in Boise
  • Deli Days, Avahath Beth Israel Synagogue in Boise
  • Boise Art Museum

MTM Washington Venues include:

  • Concert Hall, Central Washington University, Ellensburg
  • Heiner Center Concert Hall at Whatcom Community College, Bellingham
  • Fairhaven College Concert Hall, Bellingham
  • Western Washington University Concert Hall
  • Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon
  • The Amadeus Project Concert Hall
  • Anacortes Arts Festival
  • Point Roberts Marina Seafood and Music Festival
  • Chuckanut Radio Hour, Bellingham
  • Boundary Bay Brewery, Bellingham
  • The Wild Buffalo, Bellingham
  • NW Washington Fair, Lynden
  • The Public Market, Bellingham
  • American Museum of Radio and Electricity, Bellingham
  • Bellingham Museum History and Arts
  • Klezfest at Temple Beth Am, Seattle
  • Sycamore Square Winter Holiday Festival, Fairhaven
  • Samish Island Concert Series, Samish Island
  • Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship
  • Roeder Home, Bellingham
  • Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Burlington
  • Bellingham Music Club at Faith Lutheran Church
  • Third Sunday at Three at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church (chamber music organization), Bellingham
  • Allied Arts Festival, Bellingham
  • The Willows and Spring Creek Retirement Centers, Bellingham
  • Backstage@ The Border, Christ Episcopal Church, Blaine
  • Temple Beth El, Tacoma, WA
  • Firehouse Performing Arts Center, Fairhaven, WA
  • Bellingham Music Club @ Trinity Lutheran Church, Bellingham
  • Jansen Art Center, Lynden
  • Peace Arch State Park, Blaine

MTM at Klezfiesta 2008, Argentina