2009
Traditional Village Harmony 9-Day Adult Workshops
New England Green Mountain August Camp
August 7-16
Led by Peter & Mary Alice Amidon, Luke Hoffman, Stefan Amidon
An intimate all-American 9-day session of music and dance, led by four great Vermont dance leaders, musicians, singers and choral arrangers. Peter and Mary Alice Amidon are thrilled to be working together with Village Harmony alumni Luke Hoffman and (their son) Stefan Amidon. This will be a fabulous repertoire-building session for choral and hospice choir directors and singers. Everyone will go home with a fresh collection of old and new American shape note hymns, African American gospel and spirituals, potent choral arrangements of ballads, folk songs and old hymns, and the Amidons’ original choral pieces.
At this session, you will be immersed in the traditional Village Harmony aesthetic: the transformational power of living in a close community that lives, works and socializes intensely together while studying to prepare a concert program. The week will culminate in two high-energy performances that reflect the lively traditions that are the roots of this
music. Peter will lead daily dancing sessions to Mary Alice’s hot piano/ accordion/banjo and Luke and Stefan’s rocking percussion. Bring along your instruments and you will find yourself in a village band for the dancing or accompanying some of the singing.
The Sky Meadow Retreat Center in Stannard, Vermont—with its huge renovated dairy barn housing dormitory rooms and rehearsal space and set on 100 acres of woods with well-maintained paths, meditation huts and swimming ponds—is a much-beloved Village Harmony retreat location.
Limited to 25 participants.
At Sky Meadow Retreat Center, Stannard, Vermont.
$725
Leaders
PETER & MARY ALICE AMIDON are versatile musicians and gifted teachers who are dedicated to traditional song, dance and storytelling. Peter is a church choir director, and the Amidons are featured harmony singing leaders at music festivals, summer folk camps, weekend choral workshops, and adult harmony singing camps. Their choral arrangements and compositions are being sung by choruses throughout the US and the UK. The Amidons will be leading shape note music, gospel, and some great new arrangements of sacred and secular traditional songs. They are nationally recognized leaders of community dance, so bring your dancing shoes. Peter is a master caller, and Mary Alice's accordion playing will set your feet on fire. For more information, visit their website:
LUKE HOFFMAN is a Village Harmony and Northern Harmony veteran. He has been studying drums and percussion for 15 years and his keen sense of world rhythmic traditions make him a dynamic leader and teacher. He is a strong bass whose vocal and teaching specialty is American gospel. One of the newest members of the VH faculty, his amicability and sometimes ridiculous sense of humor will provide a light atmosphere for all. Luke is in his final year at Oberlin College where he studies biology, plays varsity soccer and is the co-director of Oberlin's Caribbean steel drum ensemble, Oberlin Steel. This is Luke's third year teaching at VH.
STEFAN AMIDON is a Village Harmony/Northern Harmony alumnus currently living in Brooklyn, NY after graduating last year as a jazz percussion major from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He is a percussionist in the Sweetback Sisters honky tonk band. Stefan is the percussionist of choice for several of America's favorite contra dance bands, including Lissa Schneckenburger and Lift Ticket. Stefan has led shape note singing classes at Oberlin and at the CDSS-sponsored summer camps Pinewoods Family Week and Ogontz Family Week. This is Stefan’s first year interning at VH.
Sky Meadow Retreat Center
Stannard, Vermont
With its beautifully renovated 100-year old dairy barn-turned-retreat center, Sky Meadow is located on an old Vermont homestead at the end of a dirt road in the Northeast Kingdom. Over 120 acres of land include open fields, forests with trails, ponds for swimming, an organic vegetable garden. Shared dorm rooms with large beds, fully equipped kitchen, outdoor gazebo and other structures. Village Harmony’s favorite space for smaller sessions.
http://www.skymeadowretreat.com/