Zedashe Ensemble Fall 2024
Midwest to East Coast Concert & Workshop Tour

The Zedashe Ensemble is a polyphonic vocal choir and dance group based in the eastern medieval fortress city of Sighnaghi, Caucasus Georgia. It is one of the few mixed (male and female) choirs in Georgia that is led by women. 

Directed by Ketevan Mindorashvili, the ensemble was founded in the mid-1990’s to sing polyphonic chants, unique to Georgia, that were largely lost during the Communist era. The complex three-part melodies date back to pre-Christian times and comprise music sung for the Orthodox liturgical services. Zedashe’s repertoire also includes folk songs, instrumental melodies and accompanying dances, which were collected from old publications and learned from village song-masters from around the many diverse regions of the country. 

Village Harmony has been visiting Sighnaghi to work with Zedashe nearly every year since we met during our first Georgian camp in 2001, and many of the current members of Zedashe have grew up hanging out—and helping to teach—the singers in our summer programs there. We are again acting as Zedashe’s sponsor in this their fifth US tour.

Go to Zedashe’s website for more information about the group.

You can listen to, and purchase, their many CDs on Zedashe’s Bandcamp page.

Fall US Tour Concert & Workshop Schedule

Thursday, Sept 5 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Arrival in the US and evening workshop with Mila Ensemble.

Friday, Sept 6 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- 7:30pm: Concert, Hoversten Chapel,
Augsburg University, 2211 Riverside Avenue.
Free and open to the public.

Saturday, Sept 7 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- 5:30-9pm: Public Singing Workshop,
Potluck Supper & Georgian Dance Workshop.
Cedar Room, New City Center. Sliding scale, $20-$50.
https://www.ticketleap.events/.../villag.../zedashe-workshop

Sunday, Sept 8 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- 9am: Singing in the service at
St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, 1701 Fifth St. NE.
- 7:30pm: Sacred Music Concert.
Free-will offering; suggested donation $20-$30.

Monday, Sept 9 - EAU CLAIRE, WI
- 12:00-3:00 pm: Student choral workshops,
UWEC Haas Fine Arts Center.
- 7:30 pm: Concert, Gantner Concert Hall,
Haas Fine Arts Center, UWEC.
Open to the public. $20 at the door.

Tuesday, Sept 10 - LA CROSSE, WI
- 7pm: Concert, CAPPELLA Performing Arts Center
721 King Street. $20 suggested donation.
See event page.

Wednesday, Sept 11 - VIROQUA, WI
- 1-4pm: Public Singing Workshop. Nature Nooks Retreat
4878 County Rd S. See event page.
- 6pm: Supra—Georgian feast with music & dancing.
Nature Nooks Retreat. Sold out.

Friday, Sept 13 - CHICAGO, IL
- 8pm: Concert, Hyde Park Unitarian Church
5650 S. Woodlawn Ave.
$20-$30 suggested donation at the door.
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/village-harmony/zedashe-ensemble-concert-hyde-park-chicago-il
Saturday, Sept 14 - CHICAGO, IL
Private afternoon workshop with Uniting Voices Chicago.

Sunday, Sept 15 - CHICAGO, IL
- 1-4pm: Public singing workshop, Fulton Recital Hall
Goodspeed Hall, Univ. of Chicago, 5845 S Ellis Ave.
$30 in advance or at the door.
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/village-harmony/georgian-workshop-zedashe-chicago

Monday, Sept 16 - ALBION, MI
- 7:30pm: Concert, Goodrich Chapel, Albion College,
105 N. Ingham.
Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Sept 18 - PITTSBURGH, PA
- 4-6pm: Singing workshop,
1st Unitarian Church, 605 Morewood Ave, $35.
- 7:30pm: Concert. 1st Unitarian Church.
$25 in advance or at the door
(or $50 for combined workshop & concert)
www.bit.ly/ZedashePGH

Thursday, Sept 19 - STATE COLLEGE, PA
- 7pm: Open Community Vocal Workshop & Potluck.
3 Dots Downtown, 137 E Beaver Ave. Free. https://www.gorintoproductions.com/events/secret-planet-zedashe-ensemble-caucasus-georgia

Friday, Sept 20 - STATE COLLEGE, PA
- 4:30-5:30pm: Children’s Dance Workshop,
Tempest Studios, 140 Kelly Alley. Free.
- 7:30pm: Community Concert & Potluck,
Hosted by Acoustic Brew.
University Mennnonite Church, 1606 Norma Street.
$20 suggested donation, at the door.
https://www.gorintoproductions.com/events/secret-planet-zedashe-ensemble-caucasus-georgia

Saturday, Sept 22 - STATE COLLEGE, PA
- 12pm: Matinee Community Concert,
Schlow Library, 211 S Allen Street. Free.
https://www.gorintoproductions.com/events/secret-planet-zedashe-ensemble-caucasus-georgia

Sunday, Sept 22 - PHILADELPHIA, PA
- 3-5pm: Public Singing Workshop,
Maas Building, 1320 N 5th Street. $30. https://www.maasbuilding.com/new-events/2024/9/22/zedashe-georgian-singing-workshop
- 6-9pm: Supra/Georgian feast with singing & dancing, $80.
Combined ticket for workshop and feast for $100. Or come just to listen, with ($45) or without ($30) a refillable glass of wine.
https://www.maasbuilding.com/new-events/2024/9/22/zedashe-supra-concert-amp-dinner

Tuesday, Sept 24 - ELKINS, WV
-4:30 - 5:30 pm: Workshop with the Voices of Augusta Children's Choir, Augusta Heritage Center Dance Hall.
- 6-8 pm: Workshop with the Lift Your Voice choir, Augusta Heritage Arts Center. Open to the public; $35 at the door.
 https://augustaartsandculture.org/events/workshop-with-zedashe-ensemble/

Wednesday, Sept 25 - ELKINS, WV
- 6 - 9 pm: Supra, Phil Gainer Community Center. Limited to 20 tickets sold. Tickets: https://augustaartsandculture.org/events/georgian-supra-feast-with-zedashe-ensemble/

Thursday, Sept 26 - ELKINS, WV
- 7-9 pm: Concert, Randolph County Community Arts Center. 
Tickets: $15 at the door. https://augustaartsandculture.org/events/georgian-traditional-music-dance-concert-with-zedashe-ensemble/

Friday, Sept 27 - WASHINGTON, DC
- 7pm: Concert, Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital,
921 Pennsylvania Ave SE. $20. https://www.hillcenterdc.org/event/global-sounds-on-the-hill-featuring-zedash-polyphonic-choir-and-folk-dancers-from-caucasus-georgia/

Saturday, Sept 28 - POTOMAC, MD
- 11am-1pm & 2-4pm: Singing Workshops.
Separate material for each 2-hour session. $20 per workshop
or both for $35. Email Betsy hrhbetsy@gmail.com 
or call 301.717.4641 for registration and address.    

Sunday, Sept 29 - WESTMINSTER WEST, VT
- 7pm: Concert, Westminster West Church
44 Church Street. $20 in advance or at the door.
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/village-harmony/zedashe-ensemble-concert-westminster-west-vt

Monday, Sept 30 - HADLEY, MA
Workshops with UMass choirs in the afternoon.
- 8pm: Concert, Wesley United Methodist Church,
98 N Maple Street. $25 in advance or at the door.
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/village-harmony/zedashe-ensemble-concert-hadley-ma

Wednesday, Oct 2 - GREENSBORO, VT
- 4-6pm: Singing Workshop, Highland Center for the Arts. $30 in advance or at the door.
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/village-harmony/traditional-georgian-singing-workshop-with-zedashe-greensboro-vt
7:30pm: Concert, Highland Center for the Arts
2875 Hardwick Street. $25 in advance or at the door.
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/village-harmony/concert-with-zedashe-greensboro-vt

Thursday, Oct 3 - MONTPELIER, VT
- 7:30pm: Concert, Montpelier Unitarian Church
130 Main Street. $25 in advance or at the door.
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/village-harmony/zedashe-ensemble-concert-montpelier-vt

Friday, Oct 4 - CAMBRIDGE, MA
- 8pm: Concert, First Church Cambridge, 11 Garden Street. Sponsored by Harvard University Music Department. Free.

Saturday, Oct 5 - CONCORD, MA
- 1-4pm: Public Singing & Dancing Workshop,
Concord Masonic Lodge, 58 Monument Square.
$35 in advance or at the door.
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/village-harmony/workshop-zedashe-concord-ma