Hello Vermont Choral Directors,
I’d like to urge you to invite your singers to consider participating in one of Village Harmony’s two or three week traveling singing camps this summer, either in New England or abroad. These camps focus on studying and performing traditional polyphonic singing from many parts of the world, including especially South Africa, Corsica, Georgia, Lithuania and the Balkans. Each of the camps is led by a trio of directors with particular expertise is in one or more of these genres. The small, communal camp groups of 28 singers or fewer and the 8-12 days of concert touring foster intensive and committed music making of the highest order. Camp participants repeatedly tell us that their Village Harmony experience has changed their lives.
The teen camps are open to teens ages 11-18; the adult and overseas camps are open to teens and adults. Financial aid is available, based on need. If you would like us to send you some brochures about the camps, let me know.
Complete information about the camps is on our website, here:
http://northernharmony.pair.com/
But here is a brief description of those camps which still have openings.
New England Teen Traveling Camp II, July 6-25, Led by VH alumnae Will and Lynn Mahoney Rowan and Artûras Sinckevicčius (extraordinary singer-composer-choir leader-multi-instrumentalist from Lithuania). This camp will feature ancient ritual songs from Lithuania, songs of social struggle, as well as some of Will’s fine original compositions. Rehearsal week in western Mass. followed by 12 day tour through New England.
New England Teen Traveling Camp III, July 26-August 14, led by Avery Book, Lysander Jaffe, Sinead O’Mahoney and Matlakala Bopape (extraordinary choir leader from South Africa). This camp will feature South African songs and dances, traditional songs from Georgia, Corsica and Albania, and American shape-note songs. Rehearsal week in western Mass. followed by 12 day tour through New England.
New England Teen Residential Camp, August 3-12, led by Mary Cay Brass, John Harrison, Jeremy Carter-Gordon. This camp is especially for younger teens, and features Balkan music, gospel, and original compositions. In residence in Ashfield, Mass., with two culminating concerts.
Germany/Estonia Camp July 14-August 1, led by Larry Gordon, Nathaniel Damon and Bongani Magatyana (inspirational choir leader and composer from Capetown, South Africa). The rehearsal week will be at charming small town in Mecklenburg in northeast Germany, followed by a week long tour performing in historic churches in that region, and culminating with five days at the Europa Cantat Festival in Tallinn, Estonia. This is a huge pan-European choral festival held every third year in a different European country which involves thousands of singers and choirs from across the world.
Northern UK Camp August 6-20, led by Larry Gordon, Bongani Magatyana and David Oliver. featuring contra, ceilidh and English country dancing as well as South African songs and dances, Balkan, traditional English, and American music. Rehearsal week in the seaside town of Seahouses on the Northumberland coast followed by touring through Northumberland, SW Scotland and the Lake District.
New England Adult Camp, August 18-25, led by Matlakala Bopape (from South Africa), Suzannah Park and Gideon Crevoshay. Featuring dance-songs from South Africa, traditional Appalachian and shape-note songs, music from Sardinia and Corsica and more. In residence at Buxton School in Williamstown, Mass. with two culminating concerts.
Or, for a briefer taste of Village Harmony, consider coming to our Annual Winter Weekend at Lake Morey, February 23-25, led by Larry Gordon, Patty Cuyler and Gideon Crovoshay. Featuring South African, Georgian, Corsican, Sardinian, Shape-Note and more, plus a Saturday evening folk dance.
Larry Gordon, co-director
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Village Harmony
villageharmony@gmail.com
5748 Hollister Hill Road
Marshfield, VT 05658
Vermont ACDA 