About Us
Village Harmony
Village Harmony Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, is an umbrella for a range of activities, falling broadly into four categories:
- a school-year program sponsoring community performing and touring ensembles;
- a traveling singing summer camp program for teenagers and adults;
- the semi-professional touring ensemble Northern Harmony; and
- a wide range of other music workshops and presentations, including performances and residencies by foreign teachers and touring groups.
Village Harmony was founded by Larry Gordon in 1988. It began as a small ensemble of high school singers drawn from several central Vermont schools, rehearsing extracurricularly and preparing a concert program for a ten day spring tour. In 1990 the first Village Harmony summer camp was held, establishing a pattern which has continued since: a week-long residential rehearsal week followed by a performing tour with homestays hosted by community sponsors. The organization and its programs have grown steadily and organically. In 1994 the first teen summer camp went overseas, to Russia, and the following year the first of many England camp sessions was held. We have since taken study-performance groups to Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Corsica, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Caucasus Georgia, Ukraine, Ghana and South Africa, changing our destinations each year, and making repeat visits to favorite countries. In 2010 we will hold our first camp in the Republic of Macedonia.
Until 1996 Village Harmony operated as an unincorporated association. In January, 1996 Village Harmony was incorporated as a non-profit and soon after received federal tax exempt status. Patty Cuyler became co-director, with Larry, of the organization in 1995. Our board of directors presently includes primarily musicians and group leaders who are actively involved in conceiving and implementing Village Harmony programs.
Village Harmony programs have grown almost entirely through word of mouth, and through the wide exposure afforded by extensive touring and distribution of recordings.Over the years Village Harmony has developed a strong international presence, through its many study/performance programs, through its many professional recordings, and through regular tours throughout North America, the UK and western Europe by its semi-professional touring ensemble, Northern Harmony.
Northern Harmony
Northern Harmony is a
shifting collaboration of accomplished singers and instrumentalists,
based in Vermont, but including guest participants from across
the U.S. and from many foreign countries as well. The group
includes a core of veteran professional singers together
with some of the most brilliant recent graduates of the associated
Village Harmony teenage ensemble. The group has won a wide
reputation for its powerful sound, varied voicings, relaxed
and spontaneous stage presence, and eclectic repertoire. Read more→
Boston Harmony
Boston
Harmony is a Village Harmony-style non-auditioned ensemble co-directed by Patty and Larry and now in its fourth year.
We focus on authentic, traditional harmony singing from around the world:
lots of different traditional American styles, and folk music from countries
like South Africa, Caucasus Georgia, the Balkans, Ukraine, Corsica. The
group includes both adults and teens. We are expecting an influx of new
singers this year, including quite a few Village Harmony teens, and we are
excited about the possibilities. The fall semester will culminate with three
concert performances in February. Read more→
Montpelier World Music Choir
Montpelier World Music Choir, co-directed by Patty and Larry Gordon, is based in Montpelier Vermont. We meet on Tuesday evenings at The Lamb Abbey in the warehouse area near Pioneer Street Bridge. We begin each rehearsal at 6:30 pm with (optional) instructional folk dancing; we sing from 7:15-9:15 pm. Our repertoire ranges from American shape-note, gospel and Appalachian music to traditional east European and west African and South African and Corsican harmony singing -- with some African and Bulgarian dancing thrown in, for good measure. Read more→
Onion River Chorus
Onion River Chorus is a community chorus directed by Larry Gordon that meets during the fall and spring
in Montpelier, Vermont. Adventurous from the outset, The group continues
to give ambitious and inventive performances, tackling early
baroque works by Charpentier, Schütz, Biber, and Cavalli,
as well as numerous contemporary works, including many by Vermont
composers. Onion River Chorus is unauditioned, and welcomes
singers of all abilities. Read more→