Join the multi-talented vocal ensemble Culomba and special guest teacher, Carl Linich 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.

Carl Linich has been studying, singing, and teaching traditional polyphonic folk and liturgical music from Caucasus Georgia since 1990. Originally from New York, Carl lived in Tbilisi, Georgia, for about a decade, traveling extensively, meeting singers, making field recordings, and amassing a tremendous repertoire of songs. In recognition of his work to promote and preserve traditional Georgian culture, Carl is a Silver Medal State Laureate of Georgia (1995) and has been awarded the Georgian President's Order of Merit (2009).

Since relocating back to the US, Carl has directed The Supruli Choir in New York City, the Bard College Georgian Choir, and his own family trio with his two sons. Carl holds an MFA (2004) in Music / Vocal Performance from Bennington College in Vermont.

At the Polyphony Festival we will work on polyphonic music from Corsica, Georgia, 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 Feb 7th and Saturday Feb 8th. On Sunday Feb 9th, Culomba will be performing a shared concert with Carl Linnich, 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 Feb 7th - 7-9:30
  • Saturday Feb 8th 10-12:30 and 1:30-4:30
  • Sunday Feb 9th Evening concert - Sound check/run through at 5:00 and concert at 7:30

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, Carl Linich and a whole community of singers (including YOU!)

To read all about Culomba go HERE

To listen to Culomba go HERE

To hear Carl Linich's choir in NYC go HERE

Here you can see many videos of Carl's work in Georgia with his family