THE SUPRA

Posted on August 29, 2024 by SinginKuz

A rare chance to experience the exceptional blend of Georgian cuisine, beautiful toasts and powerful songs…

SUNDAY SEPT 8, 4:30 PM – 7:30ish PM
$150-$200 donation, Limited seating (max 15)

At the beautiful Teatro Sur Theatre, in Toronto, 1159 Dundas St E Studio 145, at Carlaw.
Includes a gourmet 6 course homemade Georgian meal (menu below) & 2 glasses of wine.
Songs (by ORI SHALVA) and toasts interspersed through the evening.
For info or to reserve your spot, email OriShalva at Gmail.com or visit our donation page, which also has more ways to support Ori Shalva’s travels to Georgia.
Want to know more about Georgian cuisine? Visit our Instagram account 2Shalva where we’ll be occasional postings different dishes that will be served at The Supra.

Foodies and music lovers would be interested to know that on September 8, Ori Shalva is hosting a musical fundraising event that is also an exceptional dinner, featuring Georgian cuisine, “the best little-known cuisine in the world“. In the Post-Soviet states, Georgian food is loved for its elaborate blend of spices, walnuts, and fresh herbs and fruit that result in savoury stews, purees, sauces and salads. In Soviet times, it replaced the French haute-cuisine of the Tsarist era and grew in such popularity. But the only way to understand why this is, is to try it!

Here’s your chance to not only try it but to experience it in one of the most authentic performance opportunities of Georgian song – not in a concert hall but around a dinner table, sharing food, song and toasts!

The menu is still being finalized but will likely look a lot like this:

Charkhlis Pkhali (beet puréed with walnuts and fresh herbs)
Lobios Burtebi (beans cooked in rare blend of Georgian seasoning, shaped in to balls, and rolled in crushed walnuts)
Kharcho (walnut-garlic infused chicken stew)
Shemtsvari Badrijani Saladi (a roasted eggplant, red onion, sweet pepper salad savoured with fresh garlic, cilantro, parsley, walnuts and pomegranate seeds)
Hot, fresh Khachapuri (Georgia’s most famous cheese pie)
Salata Nigvzit (cucumber, tomatoes and red onions salad with walnut dressing – with a simpler vinegrette option as well)
All to be served with fresh Shoti Puri – bread made in a tone, a traditional Georgian oven
2 glasses of wine
dessert of some kind – still to be determined
Traditional toasting
Lots of songs

THANK YOU GIFTS for helping send Ori Shalva to Georgia

Posted on August 17, 2024 by SinginKuz

To learn more about our fundraiser visit
SAKARTVELO BOUND

A 3-ALBUM DIGITAL BUNDLE for a donation of $45-$50

An album of ZARI chanting in the Shiomghvime monestary in Mskheta
The live concert recording of GABO’s TRIO from the 2018 Symposium on Traditional Polyphony
A yet-to-be released 2019 recording of ORI SHALVA. These tracks, originally recorded for the TV show Sounds of Canada, produced by the Ethnic Channel, were never fully released! AND includes a bonus track by the beautiful Iremashvili Sisters.

17 out of 20 available

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A GENUINE SHEEPSKIN HAT for a donation of $150-$200

These handmade sheepskin hats, from the mountains of Georgia, are beautiful, breathable and really warm.
When it’s really cold, wearing one is almost like wearing another jacket. You will literally be armed with the warmth of this hat.
They come in an off-white colour (as in the picture), black, or off-white with light brown spots. When you choose this gift, don’t forget to let us know your hat size and preferred colour.
For pickup or delivery within reasonable distance from Toronto.

2 out 4 available

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A 5-ALBUM BUNDLE for a donation of $70-$100

Includes the 3-Album Digital Bundle from above
ZARI’s first CD, recorded by the award winning Jeremy Darby at Canterberry Studios in Toronto.
DIDGORI’s first CD

We’ll send you the physical copies of these CDs and also make them available for download in MP3 format (and the artwork in PNG format).

19 out of 20 available

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A PRIVATE LESSON with SHALVA for a donation of $100-$125

Shalva Makharashvili has been performing the music of his homeland for over 35 years. Starting with the panduri at the age of 4, and progressing to classical guitar, studying at the Tbilisi Conservatoire. He is a natural at both the panduri and chonguri and has experience teaching online as well as in person.
Note: in-person lessons must be within a reasonable distance from Toronto.

2 available

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PRIVATE CONCERT by ORI SHALVA for a donation of $1000-$1250

Have a special event coming up – a big anniversary, a birthday, a reunion?
Consider having Ori Shalva as that something extra to make your dinner or special event unforgettable. Have us sing a few sets or use us more informally or theatrically… Or have us frame your dinner/event in a more traditional Georgian way, with the combination of meaningful, uplifting toasts and powerful, visceral songs.

2 available

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STUDY with ORI SHALVA for a donation of $350-$500

Have Ori Shalva teach a 2-3 hour workshop for your group of singers.
In some shape or form, the members of Ori Shalva have been teaching workshops in Georgian Polyphony for over 22 years! With epxertise teaching online as well as in person.

Note: in-person lessons must be within a reasonable distance from Toronto, though we may consider travelling further to lovely places ;)

4 available

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THE SUPRA for a donation of $150-$200

Join us at THE SUPRA.
SUNDAY SEPT 8, 4:30 PM – 7:30ish PM
at the beautiful Teatro Sur Theatre, in Toronto, 1159 Dundas St E Studio 145, at Carlaw.
This is a rare chance to experience the exceptional blend of Georgian cuisine, beautiful toasts and powerful songs – performed by Ori Shalva – through a ritual feast called the SUPRA. Includes 2 glasses of wine with a 5-6 course meal, featuring some of the exquisite cuisine of Georgia.

0 out of 15 seats available.

Learn a little bit more about the supra and our menu here. But alo check out famous international chef Jamie Oliver’s promo piece on the Georgian Supra.

DONATE NOW

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Please share with anyone who may be interested

If you are ready to donate, you can do so 2 ways:

Save on processing fees and send your donation via e-transfer to orishalva AT gmail.com. Please include Title of the Thank You Gift in the message box and be sure to send us an email so we have your contact info to send a confirmation receipt and updates.
Donate using Credit Cards via our PAYPAL LINK (which is in Andrea’s name).
Note: You do not need to have a paypal account to donate this way.
Also note: we will send you a confirmation receipt and updates to the email you used with the paypal payment.
Please be sure to enter the correct amount and choose the correct gift from the drop down menu.

Have questions about any of the gifts, donations and/or methods of payment?

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FUNDRAISER: SAKARTVELO BOUND…

Posted on August 16, 2024 by SinginKuz

This September, for the first time ever,
Ori Shalva will return to the homeland of Georgian polyphony,
to perform & study with the best traditional Georgian singers in the world!

SAKARTVELO BOUND is a crowdsource funding initiative, where each donation holds so much significance, and unique and thoughtful gifts for those who contribute.

OUR THANK YOU GIFTS ARE POSTED! CHECK THEM OUT HERE

Ori Shalva has been invited to sing at two prestigious festivals, the International Folk Festival Sakartvelo in Racha and Tbilisi, hosted by the State Folklore Centre of Georgia; and the International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony sponsored by the International Research Center for Traditional Polyphony at the Tbilisi Conservatoire.

Unfortunately, our original funding fell through and we struggled with the decision of whether we should still go. Given that it’s the first time our whole family will sing and perform in Sakartvelo, we have mustered the courage to embark on this tour!

As you know, travel from Canada to anywhere is expensive. But travelling with a whole family, to a niche location like Georgia is even more challenging! So we have created this fundraiser, SAKARTVELO BOUND, to help with our flight costs (over $8000!) and we welcome any support we can get.

We have lots of heartfelt and unique gifts in exchange for your donations, like:

a seat at an authentic and intimate traditional Georgian feast framed by an elaborate series of toasts punctuated by songs performed by Ori Shalva
music lessons with Shalva (senior)
a personal performance by Ori Shalva
Genuine sheepskin Khevsureti hats
and more!

OUR THANK YOU GIFTS ARE POSTED! CHECK THEM OUT HERE

Since we ourselves are so niche, we will run a grassroots campaign. To make a donation and select your gift/s, we ask you to contact us via email (orishalva AT gmail.com) or through our online form, soon to be posted. And we are excited to update the tally of available gifts and funds raised as we go along.

With deep gratitude,
Andrea from Ori Shalva

SONG SCAPING RESIDENCY

Posted on January 9, 2023 by SinginKuz

SONG SCAPING is a four month residency at the Tranzac Club of workshops and performances by Andrea Kuzmich, intersecting traditional vocal polyphony, improvisation, and song. The Tranzac Club is located at 292 Brunswick Ave (just S of Bloor St).

THU JAN 19 7-9 PM
COLLIDING WITH KOLIADA

Koliada refers to a Slavic winter carolling tradition, thick in pagan references and gratitude, the practice usually starts in December can continue well into February – singing away those dark and cold winter nights!

7:00-8:15 PM Vocal Workshop learning winter carols
8:30-9:00 PM Performance of Koliada inspired repertoire with a small band AND YOU!!

(Here’s a little audio sample of what you may hear and sing along with)

The workshop will teach 2-3 traditional polyphonic Ukrainian winter carols. The performance then demonstrates how these songs and others are “scaped” into pieces arranged for a small band, consisting of: Andrea Kuzmich on voice & guitar; Alina Kuzma voice; Jaash Singh percussion; Jim Bish tenor sax; Michael Herring on bass; special guests from Kosa Koliadanyky AND YOU!!

SAT FEB 25 5-7 PM
UNCONVENTIONAL LOVE

UNCONVENTIONAL LOVE…will feature 2-3 singer/songwriters presenting their original compositions and arrangements that challenge the conventional love ballad, and offer new “scapes” of the love song.

More info to come…

THU MAR 16 7-9 PM
SPRINGING CAROLS

Vesninanky are Ukrainian spring carols. Many of these are ritualistic and, with their use of interesting vocal techniques and powerful dissonance, represent some of the most archaic layer of Ukrainian polyphony.

7:00-8:15 PM Vocal Workshop learning Vesnyanky (spring carols)
8:30-9:00 PM Performance of vesnyanky-inspired repertoire with a small band AND YOU!! …….more details to come…

SAT APRIL 22 5-7 PM
SCAPING THROUGH TRADITIONAL SONGS

On this last date, the workshop will focus on vocal improvisation, covering some sounding and improv techniques, and how they can be used in rearrangements of traditional polyphonic songs. The performance will feature mostly a capella arrangements of Ukrainian and Georgian songs, including the Sound Stepping Suite, commissioned by Urban Vessel for riverMouth on the Echoes app.

5:00-6:15 PM Vocal Workshop
6:30-7:00 PM Performance with participation from YOU!!

more details to come…

ALL WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCES ARE PWYC & TAKE PLACE AT:

THE TRANZAC CLUB, 292 BRUNSWICK AVE (just South of Bloor in Toronto).

KOLIADA: Ukrainian Community Carolling Group

Posted on November 29, 2022 by SinginKuz

Koliada is nearly upon us!

Not unlike the needs of so many people & cultures at this time of year, when the weather gets cold and the nights so long, KOLIADA is an occasion to come together, connect, and make the darkened cold season pass quickly trough celebration and song.

With less than 2 weeks left, our Koliada rehearsals are now closed. Over the past 3 weeks we have accumulated a great group of singers but now we now have to fine tune our style and learn the last set of songs.

Starting Dec 27, we are unable to accommodate guests into our rehearsals.

We are, however, still accepting invitations to visit houses for January 7th – so if you would like Kosa Kolektiv’s Koliada carollers to visit your home, please contact kosa.kolektiv@gmail.com.

WORKSHOPS, REHEARSALS & CAROLLING

WORKSHOP SUNDAY DEC 11 2:30 – 4:30 PM

LOCATION CHANGE: the Belarus Orthodox Church, 524 St Clarens Ave. By donation. Suggested $20-30. Follow the link above to get to the FB event.
PLEASE REGISTER VIA kosa.kolektiv@gmail.com.

REHEARSALS!!!

WEDNESADYS 7-9 PM

BELARUS ORTHODOX CHURCH,

524 St Clarens Ave, just over a block north of Bloor and one block east of Lansdowne. Closest TTC is Lansdowne station.

CAROLLING JANUARY 7

The big carolling event is on January 7, Orthodox Christmas. We will be traveling in different groups, by car, visiting homes around the GTA. Make sure to book this day off for koliada!

There will likely be more opportunities to perform in December and January, and possibly additional rehearsals when needed to accommodate the needs of the group and individual singers.

REPERTOIRE, RESOURCES & PRACTICE

Here is our KOSA KOLIADA REPERTOIRE google doc for 2022-2023!!

You will find lyrics in Ukrainian, with transliterations, rough translations and audio file references. So, you can start listening and practicing immediately!! Also note that we will be updating the doc and adding more sound files and/or songs.

Some of the audio references even have sing-a-long files. Please use HEADPHONES with the singalong files. The RIGHT CHANNEL features a solo voice and the LEFT CHANNEL all the other voices. To learn, just listen to the RIGHT CHANNEL. To practice, just listen to the LEFT CHANNEL and add your own voice into the mix. Please also be aware, these files are very rough sketches to help learn the song & it’s highly recommended to practice/study from the original sound files as well.

NOTE: it is important that singers are able to sing harmonies and not just the main melody or top voice. The musical director and other seasoned singers will help develop the group’s harmony-singing skills, as well the authentic Ukrainian singing quality known as ridnyj holos. And for those who are not Ukrainian-speaking, don’t worry, we will also help with pronunciation. If you have any questions about your interest and desire to participate, please reach out to us through the contact form below.

OTHERS ROLES

Not a harmony singer but still want to take part? There are other ways you can volunteer. Please reach out to us using the form below.

CONTACT US ABOUT KOLIADA!

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Learn UKRAINIAN songs

Posted on May 30, 2022 by SinginKuz

SONGS – lyrics, audio, sing-along files

SONG LYRICS		SAMPLE AUDIO		LEARNING RESOURCES: e.g., lyric practice, sing-a-long files (see note below)

Oj U Kievi (hrayje more)	\|\|	Kalendar	\|\|	Sing-along-Files – use headphones
Oj Rodyno	\|\|	Kalendar	\|\|	Sing-Along Files – use headphones
Oj Na Hori / Shuryata	\|\|	Рожаниця	\|\|	Sing-along-Files – use headphones
Siohodni Ivana Kupala	\|\|	Рожаниця	\|\|	to be updated soon
Tuman Yarom	\|\|	Youtube	\|\|	Sing-Along Files – use headphones
Herasym	\|\|	Bozychi	\|\|	Sing Along files – use headphones
Mnohaya lita	\|\|	unknown	\|\|	to be updated soon
Georgian Dance Song	\|\|	Ori Shalva	\|\|	partial score in the song-lyrics Link
Oj Kupalo Rozkupalo	\|\|	Kosa	\|\|	to be updated soon

NOTE: Use HEADPHONES with the singalong files. The RIGHT CHANNEL features a solo voice and the LEFT CHANNEL all the other voices. To learn, just listen to the RIGHT CHANNEL. To practice, just listen to the LEFT CHANNEL and add your own voice into the mix. Please also be aware, these files are very rough sketches to help learn the song & it’s highly recommended to practice/study from the original sound files as well.

SING WITH US!

Thursday June 2 ~ 7:00 – 8:30 PM @ Shevchenko Museum – workshopom

Friday June 3 ~ 7:00 – 8:30 PM @ MusiCamp Garden

Saturday June 4 ~ 2:30 pm & 4:45 pm @ THE DO WEST FEST, the community stage

Saturday Jun 25 ~ early afternoon 1:00 – 2:30 PM @ MusiCamp Garden

Canada Day July 1 ~ 11 am meet at 1879 Bloor Street West / 12 pm performance for Canada Day picnic

OUTDOOR WORKSHOPS are at MusiCamp’s home at 11 Cobourg Ave (just behind Dufferin mall). For outdoor workshops, please remember to bring a sun hat if you need it!

NOTE: we do recommend participants have some experience with singing harmonies.

MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

In at attempt to recognize the breadth of Ukrainian culture, this project is a hopeful start to popularize traditional Ukrainian songs and create a larger caring singing community of Ukrainian songs in Toronto. Check out our workshops dates below. Wondering what we’ll be learning, have a look at our song document and listen the embedded links for each song.

The project is an extension of Sing with Ukraine, which is a grassroots effort by Toronto-based Eastern European artists, started after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24th 2022. Click the links to learn more about Sing with Ukraine and Artists With Ukraine.

UKRAINIAN singing workshops

Posted on May 8, 2022 by SinginKuz

Visit our SONG LEARNING PAGE for updated resources and info about our events/workshops

WORKSHOPS

All are welcome, pay-what-you-can, no one will be turned away who cannot pay. Money raised for the deeply discounted venue costs and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Thursday May 12 ~ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm @ Shevchenko Museum

Saturday May 14 ~ 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm @ MusiCamp’s garden

Thursday May 19 ~ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm @ Shevchenko Museum

Saturday May 21 ~ 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm @ MusiCamp’s garden

Thursday May 26 ~ 7 pm – 8:30 pm @ Shevchenko Museum

Saturday May 28 ~ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm @ MusiCamp garden

Thursday June 2 ~ 7:00 – 8:30 PM @ Shevchenko Museum

INDOOR WORKSHOPS are at The Shevchenko Museum 1604 Bloor St W (a few blocks west of Dundas West Station). OUTDOOR WORKSHOPS are at MusiCamp’s home at 11 Cobourg Ave (just behind Dufferin mall). For outdoor workshops, please remember to bring a sun hat if you need it! NOTE: we do recommend participants have some experience with singing harmonies.

SONGS – AUDIO – RESOURCES

UKRAINIAN SINGING WORKSHOP DOC:

We will keep updating our resources to include other songs and tools to help learn songs, including audio of the individual song parts. In the meantime please check out the google doc below, which has all the lyrics and links to audio or video of the songs.

PERFORMANCES

SATURDAY JUNE 4 ~ 2:30 pm & 4:45 pm @ THE DO WEST FEST, the community stage

CANADA DAY JULY 1 ~ time tbd @ Parkdale-High Park MP Canada Day picnic in High Park

MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Below are some videos from a Ukrainian singing workshop at Afro Latino Dance as part of Dance Together Festival to raise funds for humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

HAPPY HEALTHY & CREATIVE 2021

Posted on January 1, 2021 by SinginKuz

HAPPY HEALTHY & CREATIVE 2021

We at MusiCamp want to wish you the best for the new year and hope your 2021 is filled with happiness and health. 2020 has been one of the most challenging year for so many and while I know some people are still ambivalent to what 2021 will bring, we remain hopeful – at least hopeful for more music and creativity!
Have a look at what MusiCamp has in store…

UPDATES

FESTIVE SPIRIT TO SHARE

With the spirit that Christmas carols are all about celebrating rebirth and renewal, we’re sharing these downloads of carols, released only last week and and featuring the fabulous percussion of Jaash Singh.

GEORGIAN SINGING ONLINE, STARTING AGAIN!

Starting up again mid-late January, our singing family will be zooming with you, providing all 3-voices to teach Georgian songs. Look for updates on our page.

OUTDOOR BODY PERCUSSION BODY MUSIC

For West End Toronto folks: free or pwyc, outdoor, socially distanced, body percussion workshops in January. Starting Tuesday January 5 2-3pm at Christie and Bloor. Beginner/intermediate level. Learn more here.

WINTER VIRTUAL WOMYN’S DRUM CAMP

February 5-7, MusiCamp’s Andrea Kuzmich will be one of many facilitators at this winter camp for women, which features workshops on drumming, kirtan, dance, sound healing and more
Free/pwyc event.
Click here to register.

ORI SHALVA IN THE PARK

While we recorded this in August, it was only released last month and features excellent production quality by Labyrinth Ontario, which also produced a number of other exceptional performances and interviews with traditional musicians in Toronto. Hope you get a chance to check them all out.

VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP FOR KIDS!!

Posted on July 14, 2020 by SinginKuz

SUMMER MUSICAMP ONLINE WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS!
AUGUST 17-21 2020 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

REGISTER HERE or CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO

We have a great series of workshops inspired by our Composition and Song Camp, which include body percussion, exploring songs, and composition and songwriting. At the end of the week, workshop participants will have developed new repertoire and new skills in music making. For the song and composition workshops, we’ll compile a video of performances of our campers’ work from the week and send it to parents and their kids so they can share their musical work with family and friends.

All the camps will be led by MusiCamp’s Andrea Kuzmich, who has been successfully hosting online workshops in Georgian Singing and Body Percussion since April. To make it more real, more musically interactive and more fun, Andrea’s 12-year-old son will be joining her!

Parents can sign kids up for the full day of camp (all three workshops) for $275 or can sign up for individual workshops (prices listed below). All camps are run on Zoom. For more information please visit our contact us page.

Andrea & son, 2017 Body Percussion Festival, Harboufront Centre, Toronto. Click to view.

BODY PERCUSSION BODY MUSIC WORKSHOP
Ages 8-14; class size unlimited
Mon-Fri 9:30-10:30 AM $65
REGISTER HERE
A fun, physically active, movement and rhythm workshop, and a great workout for the brain!
Participants in this workshop will be introduced to cool rhythms that can be performed with the body and voice. Starting with simple patterns and building upon them, the workshops present material to accommodate varying skills.

A sample of songs from past camps. Click to view.

EXPLORING SONGS WORKSHOP
ages 9-14; class size limited to 10 participants
Mon-Fri 11:00-12:00 AM $85
REGISTER HERE
Kids will learn a load of songs from a vast array of styles and genres. Some are rhythm based, some ancient; some new music, other contemporary pop; some may involve body percussion, others chordal accompaniment.
Starting with basic rhythmic chants and work songs and progressing to 3 and 4 chord songs, we’ll explore the makeup of a song and naturalize concepts of rhythm, tonality, scale, the pentatonic scale, chords and harmony.
A video compilation of the songs learned/performed will be sent to participants and their parents at the end of the week.

COMPOSITION AND SONGWRITING WORKSHOP
ages 10-14; limited to 8 participants
Mon-Fri 1:30-3:30 PM $175
REGISTER HERE
Have a song you want to sing? A story you want to tell? This series will help the aspiring songwriters and singers put their ideas to music.
Through fun and practical songwriting exercise, participants are introduced to aspects of songwriting, like hooks, riffs, harmony, and rhythmic accompaniment, chorus-verse format, basic chord progressions, intros and outros, rhyming and storytelling – useful skills/review for even the more experienced song-writers.
A video compilation of all the original compositions will be sent to participants and their parents at the end of the week.
Note: this series builds off of the songs and concepts we learned in Exploring Songs; it is highly recommended your child enrol in the Exploring Songs workshop as well.