Holly Taylor-Zuntz: Georgian Harmony Day

About the leader

Holly is a singing leader specialising in community music and harmony songs from the country of Georgia, where she spent many years living and learning the ancient folk music from tradition bearers.

She leads open-access workshops and choirs in Oxford, across the UK and internationally, as well as singing holidays to Georgia.

Holly trained as a Natural Voice leader, and believes that singing is for everybody, regardless of their musical experience or ability.

She enjoys combining mindfulness techniques and somatic exercises into her practice, using the whole body as an instrument.

Her practice involves embodied voice work, exploring how the voice resonates in different parts of one’s body, and how that resonance can create a fuller ensemble sound.

Holly is an expert in Georgian polyphony, teaching with deep knowledge of the tradition and a calm, grounded leadership style that helps singers feel safe to be bold. She’s known for making unfamiliar repertoire accessible, especially for large, mixed-ability community groups.

https://hollytaylor-zuntz.com

What we’ll do on the day
We’ll learn three-part Georgian folk songs by ear, with context and translation provided by Holly. We'll also practice several somatic exercises to help you understand how your body resonates. This means you won't just learn the songs, but enjoy singing them with ease and satisfaction. 

Who it’s for
For anyone curious about Georgian singing, or singing in general. No prior experience needed, and no need to read music, just a willingness to listen closely and sing wholeheartedly.

The Stonegate Singers are a busy community choir based in York UK. Recent performance include concerts around York, and events such as the Stonegate Singers Ceilidh Night, together with the brilliant folk band The House Devils. The Stonegate Singers have performed live on the BBC, and as part of community events such as The Great Get Together in Rowntree Park. In August 2017, we performed in the Creswell Crags limestone gorge as part of Refugium, a new mixed media piece by director Jon Hughes.