International camp overview

Since 1990 the singers and instrumentalists of Village Harmony Summer Camp have been traveling and performing throughout New England and an ever-widening swath of the globe, participating in cultural exchanges and delighting audiences with their heart-felt renditions of unusual folk music from around the world.

Unlike many choirs where the aim is to have a membership whose voices blend seamlessly, Village Harmony is an un-auditioned, inclusive group whose only demands of would-be members is that they be committed to making good music. This has resulted in a choir whose sound remains dynamic, unpredictable, and absolutely exciting year after year. With their easy command of phenomenally varied singing styles and infectiously joyous stage presence, Village Harmony ensembles always knock people’s socks off.

Village Harmony camps begin with a week of rehearsal in residence at a retreat center. Overseas rehearsal retreats this coming year will include a lakeside inn in Ohrid, Macedonia; a self-catering youth hostel near the coast in Seahouses, Northumberland, UK; mini-mansions on the beach in Mahajanga, Madagascar; and a cluster of houses in the historic hill-town of Sighnaghi in Kakheti, Republic of Georgia.

During the rehearsal week, singers get to know one another and their music. Participants learn the basics of new singing styles and prepare a concert program under expert leadership, with emphasis on the cultural context and authentic vocal technique of the genres making up each session’s particular musical tapestry. Rehearsals are long and intense—six or more hours each day—and, depending on the country, may include individual voice coaching, dance practice and folk instrument lessons between group sessions. Word-sheets and notes are used for some of the music, but nearly everything is taught by ear. We place a lot of emphasis on authenticity—understanding the spirit and vocal style of each musical genre—and on appreciating the joy of singing together and with conviction.

Within this rigorous structure, the groups tend to be relaxed and non-competitive, with a deliberately democratic atmosphere. The framework of each residency is communal. In most cases, everyone pitches in to help with cooking and cleaning. The menu is primarily vegetarian, and is responsive to the tastes, dietary needs and culinary talents of camp participants. There will always be time for walks and exploring. During the rehearsal week there is usually an evening cabaret, where campers are encouraged to flaunt their flair for music, stand-up comedy or random talents. 

After the rehearsal week, each session takes its show on the road. Residential camps—in Macedonia and Georgia— will wrap up with a short concert series within driving distance of their retreat center.

For participants in the traveling camp sessions, however—the alumni camp in the UK and the Madagascar camp—the adventure is just beginning. After the first concert, everyone and everything gets packed up as the group embarks upon a concert tour. While on tour the ensemble travels nearly every day—stopping en route to explore sites of interest—with performances sprinkled along the way. The combination of intense immersion in new repertoires and the myriad challenges of polishing concert performances to a high sheen are exhilarating for all involved, and produce a close community by the end of camp.

Whether they attend a camp in the US or overseas, most campers emerge from their stint in Village Harmony with broadened cultural horizons. In past years, singers have come from all over North America and from many other countries (England, Australia, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Caucasus Georgia, Israel, New Zealand, Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand, Bosnia) to participate in our summer camps. We have a international staff of singers, instrumentalists and composers who are fluent in a wide range of traditions, including American shape-note, Appalachian and gospel music; South African folk music; Bulgarian, Macedonian Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian music; polyphony from Corsica and Caucasus Georgia; and Western baroque and renaissance music.

We hold most of our concerts in village churches and small town community halls, perform at folk festivals, and collaborate with local musicians. The communities that sponsor our concerts and make up our audiences provide potluck suppers and overnight housing. These home-stays offer a unique opportunity for campers to glimpse the startling variety of ways in which people live their lives—and to experience directly the excitement generated by Village Harmony’s music making.