Connect with other singers on Tuesday evenings. 

Immerse yourself in Georgian music with this short course in polyphonic and embodied singing. 

Learn about Christmas and New Year traditions in the Republic of Georgia. 

The info

Tuesdays 19.30-21.30 

November 15th, 22nd, 29th

December 6th, 13th, 20th

January 3rd, 6th (Georgian Christmas supra).

The course

This is an opportunity to go deep into the ancient folk music of Georgia. Over 7 sessions we will form a temporary choir, experiencing the sense of great connection that comes from sharing these epic harmonies. At the end of the course we will share the songs with friends and family at a supra (shared meal), which will fall on Orthodox Christmas. 

You will learn many folk songs from the polyphonic tradition of Georgia, and how to make the most out of your natural voice while singing them. You will experience the joy of connecting with others through shared sound.

Each week we will learn a new song and a singing technique for increasing our bodily vibration. We will also revisit the previous week's song, so attending every session will give you the greatest insight and sense of satisfaction.

Georgian Polyphonic Songs

Georgia is a small country bordering the Black Sea, Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey. Its polyphonic music, as well as its unique alphabet, have been recognised by UNESCO as an ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’.

Though small, there is great variety within the different regions of the country, including soothing healing songs, rousing table songs, and reverent chants. These songs touch something deep inside our bodies, reaching down to the earth and back through generations of ancestors.

This course offers a way in to learning about these songs, as well as the stories and people behind them. Holly will bring cultural context to this centuries-old tradition.

The Course Leader

Holly Taylor-Zuntz is a voice leader, song collector and multi-disciplinary artist from Oxford who has been living in Georgia and studying Georgian songs for the last five years.

Having 'grown up' in community folk choirs, she went on to train in Musical Theatre and then European Theatre at drama school. Her physical theatre training opened up a world of embodied voice practice, leading her to Poland and ultimately Georgia. Along the way she has learned from composer Helen Chadwick, vibrational expert Frank Kane, and director Anna-Helena Mclean, as well as many prominent ethnomusicologists in Georgia (Nino Naneishvili, Malkhaz Erkvanidze, Nana Mzhavanadze).

Holly's singing workshops are full of joy! In 2022 she lead three Georgian workshops in Oxford, a 6 week pop-up Georgian choir and several community singing groups. She also lead a series of community singing workshops in Tbilisi, including Georgian polyphony, Ukrainian songs, and mindful voice practice. 

She is one of the founders of Voices of the Ancestors, a podcast and theatre show about Georgian polyphonic songs, the women who sing them, and how they came to be loved in the UK. For more info go to: www.voicesoftheancestors.co.uk

Singing Level Required

This choir is open to those who can hold a tune while singing with others. No previous experience of Georgian music is required, and you do not need to be able to read music. If you already know many Georgian songs, this course offers a new perspective on them.

FAQs
Q. Can I join the choir with little to no experience of singing?

Answer: There are no auditions for the choir, it’s a self selection process.
Georgian singing can be more challenging than western songs as the harmonies are unusual to our ears.
But singing in an unknown language can also be very freeing, and confidence building.
I have recently taken Natural Voice leader training, which involved helping singers find their unique voice, so I hope that this choir will be inclusive and empower singers to feel confident in their voice.
You do not need to:
- read sheet music
- sing solo
You do need to:
- match pitch (sing the same notes) as other people in your part
- have at least some experience of singing 

I don’t recommend this choir for your first ever sing! 

You are very welcome to book for the first session as a drop in and see how it goes.
Having said all that, there is a small minority of singers who are unable to blend with others and affect the overall sound of the group. In those cases I may have to ask them to leave. But this hasn’t happened yet!

Q. Can I join halfway through the course, or drop-in for one session?
A. Thankfully we have nice large core group, which means that it's not too disruptive for some people to come and go. 
Please be aware that we will be recapping songs we have already learnt, and these will not be taught as new each week. 
The sooner you sign up, the sooner you will receive links to our repertoire, so you can arrive with an idea of what we are singing. 

Tickets

Full course of 7 sessions: £66.50

Weekly Drop in: £11

Supra suggested donation: £5

If you need a concession, please do not hesitate to contact me at hollytaylor575@gmail.com - you don't need to explain why. 
There is room for everyone, no matter your financial circumstances!