自我介绍

I've lived and traveled so many places. Born and raised in California, studied at Princeton University in New Jersey, studied language for 9 months in Tokyo, Japan, traveled the old Silk Road route alone with a backpack for most of a year after finishing college, lived in Berkeley, CA and Washington, DC and Hopewell, NJ before becoming a long-time resident of Vermont. I now live much of the year in Chicago. A musician and singer, I have been co-director of the non-profit music organization Village Harmony since 1995 and as such I travel and teach widely in the summertime, both in the US and abroad. Over the years I've taken groups to sing and study music in SO many places—all over Europe, to Bulgaria and Ukraine, to Corsica and Ghana and South Africa. But the country I love bringing people to the most is Georgia. I first brought a group of singers to Sighnaghi in K'akheti in eastern Georgia in the summer of 2001. Smitten by Sighnaghi's location and old-time charm—and the wonderful singers of the local traditional music ensemble, Zedashe—I impulsively bought a lovely old house here. The house, with its two levels each with kitchen, bathroom and multiple bedrooms, became the base for many, many ensuing Village Harmony programs in Georgia. The upper floor just underwent a major renovation for AirBnb and the lower floor is currently primarily opened up for group rentals, with total space for up to 19 people to sleep. In 2006 I bought a second house, just a few steps away. It has also been fully renovated and includes a large upstairs rehearsal/conference room (which is rented out separately) and a lovely 2-bedroom downstairs apartment with a separate entrance. In addition I own the small house immediately next door which is awaiting a rebuild. When finished, the complete retreat complex formed by the three buildings will be able to comfortably accommodate visiting groups of 30 or more. My hope is to help house university and cultural groups from around the world to Sighnaghi coming here for residencies and music/dance workshops.