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