Friends of GW Action Group
Ori Shalva (the Makharashvili Family)
Shalva Makharashvili, Andrea Kuzmich, Shalva-Lucas and Gabriel Makharashvili
Over the centuries family ensemble has played a significant role in keeping traditional Georgian polyphonic singing alive. And true to this preserving nature, Ori Shalva (aka the Makharashvili family) continues this practice despite being relocated half way around the world.
The family started performing in private settings, for birthdays and other calendric events, but as the children aged and developed more skills and repertoire, the family found themselves in more performance opportunities – whether they be in cameo appearances on stages in Toronto, NY and Georgia, or in more featured performances such as Harbourfront’s 2017 Body Percussion Festival or Toronto’s Annual Black Out Party 2018.
Today, Georgian-born singer/multi-instrumentalist Shalva Makharashvili and his Toronto-born partner, Andrea Kuzmich, represent Canada’s foremost experts in Georgian polyphony. Andrea is an academic (PhD ABD) who has presented and published papers on Georgian music to international audiences. Both Shalva and Andrea were featured soloists in Darbazi; founded the award-winning trio ZARI; led Georgian workshops and/or have collaborated with many groups in Canada, including VIVA Youth Singers, Aradia Ensemble, UofT Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Young Voices of Toronto and Folk Camp; and have exposed many in Toronto (enthusiastic amateur singers and professional musicians and composers) to the intricacies of Georgian polyphony through regular workshops they lead out MusiCamp, their Toronto-based home studio.
By the way, Shalva is a traditional Georgian name and is the name of two of the members of the ensemble. Ori means 2 – which is why we call the group Ori Shalva & co.
Darbazi
Raymond Kinoshita, Nick Moss Gillespie, Laurel MacDonald, Vato Katchibaia, Frank Griggs, Phil Strong, Daryl Vineberg
Founded in 1995, Darbazi is a Toronto-based ensemble devoted to the performance of traditional vocal music from the republic of Georgia, a country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia with a centuries-old tradition of polyphonic singing. Darbazi’s repertoire ranges from rollicking work songs to exquisite lullabies to elegiac table songs, spine-tingling krimanchuli yodeling, and majestic sacred chants. This eight-member ensemble has worked continually over many years to extend their fluency and understanding of this extraordinary music.
Machari
Alan Gasser, Bie Engelen, and Michelangelo Laffaldano have been singing Georgian music, together and separately for many years. Their favorite place to sing is around the feasting table, with the proper rituals and ceremonies, but really? They love to learn and sing together for storytelling festivals, school appearances, concerts, and church services. The sound of the folk music from Georgia has called to these three singers and many of their friends, for more than twenty years.
How many people are in this trio? One actor, one choir director, one origamian, one seamstress, one gardener, one stay-at-home dad, one leather worker, one IT specialist, one veteran of the Italian army, one flag-spinner, one lover of poetry, two polyglots, three immigrants to Canada, and a daughter (sometimes two).
Alilo
Al Hakimov, Diana Iremashvili, Sandro Hakimov, Mika Hakimov, Madona Iremashvili
Diana Iremashvili, a singer and journalist, left Georgia twenty years ago and moved to North America. Diana, a passionate musician, regularly organizes concerts and events to introduce beautiful Georgian music to American and Canadian audiences. Diana’s repertoire mostly consists of romantic and urban songs.
When living in New York, Diana started singing chants in the Saint Nino’s Church choir since its opening.
After moving to Canada in 20014 Diana founded the Group “Alilo” with her husband Al Hakimov and her sons Sandro and Mika Hakimov, performing Georgian folk songs. In 2017 the Group “Alilo” was awarded as the best family musical group outside of Georgia.
Ucha Abuladze
Ucha Abuladze is a graduate of the Kutaisi Meliton Balanchivadze State Central Musical School, holds a Bachelor and Master’s degrees from the Tbilisi Vano Sarajishvili State Conservatoire, soloist at the Tbilisi Zakaria Paliashvili Opera and Ballet State Theatre, course graduate of the Italian Osmis Lyrical Academy and the Milan Music School. Ucha Abuladze has attended the famous Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballé’s Master Classes in Zaragoza, Spain.
Mr. Abuladze has performed in front of audiences in the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany with his brother, internationally acclaimed opera singer Gocha Abuladze, a lead opera singer at the Theater Magdeburg in Germany.
We are very proud that Ucha Abuladze is such a great representative of the Georgian Community in Canada.
Georgian Music
Elements of the rich and diverse culture of the Georgian people, the traditional songs of Georgia are a musical chronicle of the country’s history. Georgia has preserved large number of unique songs and melodies.
The most distinctive feature of Georgian folk song is that it is polyphonic in three voice parts and the complex harmonies take roots from pre-Christian times.
Georgian songs are traditionally connected with events of daily life: work, laments, lullabies, historical events or figures, rituals, healing, traveling, humor and dance. Table songs are a particularly important genre, with the tradition of the supra (feast) with an elaborate series of toasts.
Church music is slower, softer and more melodic, compared to folk songs. Chants in the style of polyphony are performed so harmoniously that it seems as if the singers do not even breathe.
Georgians are proud of their traditional polyphony, designated by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
