Join the multi-talented vocal ensemble Culomba and special guest teacher, Mollie Stone for a deep dive into the world of a cappella Polyphony!

We will be led by all of the members of Culomba - a professional vocal ensemble specializing in close harmony folk singing. Culomba's repertoire includes American folk traditions, music of Georgia, Corsica, and the Balkans, renaissance music, and original compositions. These singers have toured internationally and studied with masters of these traditions, bringing their eclectic specialties to this unique ensemble.

 

Mollie Stone serves as Choral Conductor at the University of Chicago, directing the University Chorus and Women's Ensemble. Stone is also the Co-Founder/Director of the Chicago World Music Chorus, and teaches internationally with the organization Village Harmony.
Stone holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College, a Master of Music degree in conducting from Westminster Choir College, a Doctorate in choral conducting from Northwestern University, and has studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She wrote her dissertation on how Black South Africans have adapted the choral music of the anti-apartheid struggle to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
In 2001, Stone received a grant from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation to produce a teaching DVD (Vela Vela) that helps American choral directors to learn and teach Black South African choral music more authentically in the oral tradition.
Stone works both internationally and locally to help create programs and collaborations that allow singers to study the music of various traditions by working directly with tradition bearers, and to provide tradition bearers with platforms and resources that support them in sharing their music on their own terms.
Mollie will bring her expertise in classical music, South African and Georgian polyphony to the festival this year!

 

At the Polyphony Festival we will work on polyphonic music from Corsica, Georgia, South Africa, the Balkans, the US, music from the renaissance and original compositions. The focus of the workshop will be to explore and delight in these different manifestations of complex and beautiful multi part harmony singing from around the world and across the ages.

We will be learning as a big group all together and having breakout sessions with different sections and ALL ARE WELCOME!! It helps to be able to read music but it is not a prerequisite. What you need is a good ear and openness and willingness to learn and sing out!

The workshop will be held over 2 days - Friday Jan 30th and Saturday Jan 31st. On Sunday Feb 1st, Culomba will be performing a shared concert with Mollie Stone, Karla Mundy, Rhythm 'n' Roots choir and YOU! Workshop singers will sing the songs we have learned well enough to perform on Sunday! A ticket to the concert is included for everyone who takes part in the workshop.

When:Friday Friday Feb 7th-Sunday Feb 9th

  • Friday Jan 30th - 7-9:30
  • Saturday Jan 31st 10-12:30 and 1:30-4:30
  • Sunday Feb 1st Evening Concert - time TBD

Where: Pacific Spirit Church for the workshop and Canadian Memorial United Church for the concert.

How much: - $200

Who: Sophie Michaux, Adam Jacob Simon, Lysander Jaffe, Lexi Ugelow, Daniel Fridley, Mollie Stone and a whole community of singers (including YOU!)

To read all about Culomba go HERE

To listen to Culomba go HERE

To see an example of one Mollie's choir concerts in Chicago go HERE