Georgian & Ukrainian Polyphony in Sutton, Quebec
LOCATION & DATE
L’Ensemblitude Nature Centre
Friday August 7 – Sunday August 9
Tucked into the mountain landscape of Sutton, Quebec, this weekend-long retreat takes place at L’Ensemblitude Nature Centre, with views of Mount Pinnacle and access to surrounding forest trails. Over the course of the weekend, participants will explore the polyphonic singing traditions of Georgia and Ukraine.
Workshop Options
Friday Evening Workshop – $60
Friday 7:00–9:30 PM
Full Weekend Retreat – $275
Saturday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Saturday Night Community Dinner/Supra
Potluck Georgian feast with singing and toasting
Accommodations
$36/person for 1 night | $60/person for 2 nights
No Previous Experience Required
No knowledge of Georgian/Ukrainian required
No music reading is necessary
All songs are taught by ear
Recommend experience with harmony singing
Saturday Night Supra
A supra is a traditional Georgian feast centered around shared food, toasting, and singing. Participants are invited to contribute to a potluck dinner on Saturday evening and join in on the celebration.
Meet Your Instructors
ORI SHALVA
Ori Shalva is a family trio bringing together a rare depth of experience in both Georgian and Ukrainian traditional polyphony. Led by Georgian-born singer and multi-instrumentalist Shalva Makharashvili, the trio also includes singer, ethnomusicologist, and workshop leader Andrea Kuzmich and their son, singer and musician Shalva‑Lucas Makharashvili. Together, they offer a rare opportunity to learn these traditions through the living practice of family-based polyphonic singing.
DIRECT ACCESS TO GEORGIAN-TRADITION BEARERS
Shalva Makharashvili is not only deeply rooted in Georgian singing traditions through birth, language, and lifelong immersion in family and community singing, but is also a virtuoso traditional singer and instrumentalist. Musicians of his calibre and background rarely leave Georgia, making the chance to study directly with him exceptionally uncommon outside the country itself.
WHY THE TRIO FORMAT MATTERS
Their ability to demonstrate the full texture, blend, tuning, phrasing, techniques, and stylistic nuances of traditional polyphony – especially when singing alongside participants – allows the music to be absorbed more quickly and deeply than is possible with a single instructor. Shalva and Andrea have led Georgian singing workshops for more than twenty years, were featured soloists with Darbazi, and co-founded the award-winning trio ZARI.
EXPERTISE IN UKRAINIAN POLYPHONY
Alongside her work in Georgian music, Andrea Kuzmich is also a leading specialist in Ukrainian traditional polyphony in Canada. She directed the Kosa Choir, has published research on Ukrainian polyphony, and sang on and co-produced ZEMLYA EARTH (2025), the first Canadian album devoted to traditional Ukrainian polyphonic singing.
Check out these videos from recent Ori Shalva workshops. Follow the link to our youtube playlist and watch even more.
learn more about Ori Shalva workshops here
Accommodation at L’Ensemblitude
Main Facility
- 10 rooms with 2 single beds
- 2 rooms with double beds
- 1 room with 4 single beds
- 4 showers and 4 toilets
- Wifi
- Large kitchen and dining room
Cabins
- 4 cabins with single beds
- 2 cabins with double beds
Additional Information
- 22 acres of walking trails
- Participants bring their own sheets, blankets, towels, and food
- Pets are not permitted
MusiCamp 