A weekend of music and merriment

Friday, August 23 - Sunday, August 25

See schedule below

Location:
Whitehill Farm
East Ryegate, VT

Tickets: $125

After purchasing your ticket, please fill out the registration form found HERE.

A magical, musical retreat in the mountains of Vermont! Lynn and Will Rowan will lead a gentle weekend of singing with dancing, storytelling, drumming, and ritual in the beautiful hills of northern Vermont! No music reading skills required, just a willingness to open to music, community, and nature. The weekend will include music from harmony singing traditions around the world. We will also sing rounds, chants, and songs of solidarity to celebrate the earth, reinforce our interconnectedness, and heal our hearts in these challenging times. Friday and Saturday we will make a procession up the hill with bagpipes and drums to honor the sun in song, then light our evening fire for stories, music, and merriment. Please bring musical instruments if you have them! The weekend will culminate in a Sunday afternoon community concert by Lynn & Will and the Summersong Singers. Join kindred spirits, friends new and old, and music-lovers and celebrate summer’s end with us!

The weekend will be held at Whitehill Farm, located in the southern most point of the Northeast Kingdom. The Farm was a traditional dairy farm and we continue to pasture heifers to this day. The homestead continues to maintain 40 acres most of which are pasture, but there is a 3 acre parcel of cedars and five acres of sugar maples that are tapped each year. There are outstanding views from the top of this traditionally rugged property where you can take in the White Mountains and the Connecticut River.

Meals and accommodations

The traditional farmyard barn where we will be rehearsing has a common sleeping area upstairs. Participants may alternately bring tents to camp onsite. There are no onsite showers, but there is swimming nearby in a stream and pond. All participants will take part in the daily chores of the camp including cooking our communal meals, cleaning up after meals, and keeping our space tidy, helping build our community for the weekend.

Ages

10-Adult

Camp is not geared towards children under 10. Participants aged 10-11 should be accompanied by an adult or older sibling. People aged 12 and up can attend independently.

For more information, please contact Heather Alger: Heather.l.alger@gmail.com

Directors:

Lynn Rowan has dedicated her professional life to the study of vocal performance in its many and varied forms and has performed and taught workshops, lessons and lead choirs in singing for the past decade. These days she spends most of her time performing with her vocal band, Windborne, focusing on songs of social justice. Having grown up immersed in the folk communities of Vermont and discovering harmony singing traditions of many cultures through Village Harmony (which she now teaches for) her work is deeply rooted in and influenced by nature, history, and folklore of not only her own home, but also rich traditions from all over the world. Lynn’s teaching style is clear, warm, and encouraging.

Will Rowan was raised in a community where folk music and dance played an important role in bringing people together to celebrate. He fell in love with ensemble singing while touring with Village Harmony, learning from master singers and dancers at home and abroad. He studied music composition and ethnomusicology at Marlboro College, winning awards in choral composition and publishing several pieces. He also holds a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the Bard College Conservatory. Will is a multi-instrumentalist, playing banjo, piano, accordion, bagpipes, and percussion. With his sensitive style and years of cross-cultural teaching experience from international tours with Northern Harmony, Will is now a sought after song leader, teaching Village Harmony camps in the US and Lithuania.

Rough Schedule

Friday

• 4-5:00 – Arrivals
• 5:00 – Opening
• 6:00 – Dinner
• 6:30 – Dinner Cleanup
• 7:00 – Opening Circle/Singing down the Sun
• 8:00 – Evening Fire

Saturday

• 8:00 – Breakfast prep
• 8:30 – Breakfast
• 9:00 Breakfast cleanup
• 9:30 Morning Singing
• 12:00 – Lunch Prep
• 12:30 – Lunch
• 1:30 – Lunch cleanup
• 2:00 – Afternoon singing/dancing
• 4:30 – Dinner prep
• 6:00 – Dinner
• 6:30 – Dinner cleanup
• 7:00 – Singing down the Sun
• 8:00 – Evening Fire

Sunday

• 8:00 – Breakfast prep
• 8:30 – Breakfast
• 9:00 – Breakfast cleanup
• 9:30 – Morning Singing
• 11:30 – Lunch prep
• 12:15 – Lunch
• 12:45 – Lunch clean-up
• 1:15 – Concert prep
• 2:00 – Closing Circle
• 3-4 – Concert
• 4-5 – Final Clean-up / Departures

Tuesdays, September 10, 17 and 24, 9:30-11:30am

Location:
Catamount Arts Classroom
115 Eastern Ave.
St. Johnsbury VT

Instructor: Tatiana Murray

Have fun experimenting with colorful polymer clay to make unique items to wear and display. Students may register for one or more weeks – each week, students will complete a different project.

• September 10: Zipper pulls
• September 17: Refrigerator magnets
• September 24: Earrings and bracelets

Class fee: $15 each or $40 for all three. Catamount Arts is committed to offering quality arts activities for children, regardless of ability to pay. Please call 802-748-2600 ext 108 and speak to Anne to inquire about scholarship availability or working out a payment plan.

After purchasing a “ticket” for the class, please complete the enrollment form HERE.

Tatiana Murray worked as an art teacher and illustrated children’s books in her native Russia. A member of the New Hampshire Art Association and New Hampshire League of Craftsmen, she has exhibited widely and has an Etsy shop featuring her wool felted designs.

Tuesdays, September 10-October 22, 12:00-2:00pm

Location:
Catamount Arts Cabaret Room
115 Eastern Ave.
St. Johnsbury, VT

Instructor: Tatiana Murray

Learn and practice foundational techniques for drawing and painting with award-winning artist Tatiana Murray. Materials provided. Students may wish to purchase supplies with which to work at home; a supplies list will be provided upon registration.

Class fee: $130; 10% off ($117) for each additional sibling. Catamount Arts is committed to offering quality arts activities for children, regardless of ability to pay. Please call 802-748-2600 ext 108 and speak to Anne to inquire about scholarship availability or working out a payment plan.

After purchasing a “ticket” for the class, please complete the enrollment form HERE.

Tatiana Murray worked as an art teacher and illustrated children’s books in her native Russia. A member of the New Hampshire Art Association and New Hampshire League of Craftsmen, she has exhibited widely and has an Etsy shop featuring her wool felted designs.

Location: Catamount Arts Center

Admission: Free

Northern Vermont Songwriters is a new organization for songwriters to share knowledge and maximize creativity. Membership and meetings are free. We meet at 6:45 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month in the cabaret room at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury. Songwriters from Vermont, New Hampshire and anywhere else are invited to attend, and all genres of music are welcome. Songwriters may bring a song to share. The song may be performed live for the group, or a recording may be played (an iPhone dock will be available). Songwriters are encouraged to bring 6 copies of lyrics to share with the group. They may also bring lyrics only, or choose to simply listen and comment on the songs of others. Members might be invited to participate in public performances, including a Songwriter Round at Catamount Arts and at First Night. Another exciting benefit is occasional workshops hosted by music industry professionals, designed to help songwriters improve their craft. Please join us for our next meeting. Any questions should be sent to jakarns33@gmail.com; or phone: (802) 467-9859.

Saturday, September 14, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Location:
Catamount Arts Center
115 Eastern Ave
St. Johnsbury, VT

Admission: Free

Families are invited to stop by Catamount Arts during St. Johnsbury’s Colors of the Kingdom festival to make colorful and wearable banjos and fiddles with Sharon Kenney Biddle in celebration of the 2nd Annual St. Johnsbury Bluegrass Festival taking place that afternoon. This make-and-take workshop is free and open to all ages. For more information, call 802-748-2600 ext. 109.

Tuesdays, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 4-5pm

Location:
Catamount Arts Classroom
115 Eastern Ave.
St. Johnsbury VT

Instructor: Mary Sturtevant

In this series of classes, students will learn about the design and care of the Native American flute; myths and legends; the pentatonic scale; basic notes and rhythms; playing songs using finger diagrams; an introduction to Nakai TAB (a way to write music for the Native American Flute); plus a few surprises! Flutes available for purchase or rental will be available from the instructor, as will workbooks.

Class fee: $60 (10% discount for Catamount Arts members and students). To register, visit catamountarts.org or call 802-748-2600, extension 100.

Parents of students under 18 will need to complete an Enrollment Form after paying for the clas.

Mary Sturtevant, the owner of Path of Harmony in Sugar Hill, NH, is a certified instructor of Reiki, Qigong, and Taiji, and a student and practitioner of Eastern philosophy, healing modalities and movement forms for more than 35 years. More recently, her energies have been drawn by the Native American Flute and this beautiful instrument has become a source of healing, creativity, meditation, and relaxation. Mary finds that it is a joy to share this instrument with other like-minded beings on the journey.

Sunday, October 6, 1-3pm

Location:
Catamount Arts Classroom
115 Eastern Ave.
St. Johnsbury VT

Instructor: Tatiana Murray

Tatiana will guide you through wet felting techniques as you unleash your creativity to make beautiful felted wool flowers. Wear your completed flower as a brooch or other embellishment by adding a pin backing. We will provide all materials, including a variety of sparkly embellishments. This fun workshop is for all skill levels.

Class fee: $30 (10% discount for Catamount Arts members and high school students). Scholarship funds are available for high school students; please call Anne at 802-748-2600 ext. 109 for details.

Registration deadline: October 4

Parents of students under age 18: Please complete an enrollment form HERE after paying for the workshop.

Tatiana Murray worked as an art teacher and illustrated children’s books in her native Russia. A member of the New Hampshire Art Association and New Hampshire League of Craftsmen, she has exhibited widely and has an Etsy shop featuring her wool felted designs.

Mondays, November 11-December 16, 9:30-11:30am

Location:
Catamount Arts Classroom
115 Eastern Ave.
St. Johnsbury VT

Instructor: Dana Karuza-Tulp

Students will “travel” across the globe, exploring folk crafts and cultures. Maps, books, and video will supplement our hands-on art projects. Japanese brush painting on rice paper, origami, whimsical Mexican tin reliefs of animal patterns, and African masks are just a few of the traditional folk crafts we’ll examine as we move across the continents celebrating the diversity of human creativity on our planet. Students may register for one or more weeks.

Class fee: $20 each; 10% off ($108) if registering for all 6. Catamount Arts is committed to offering quality arts activities for children, regardless of ability to pay. Please call 802-748-2600 ext 108 and speak to Anne to inquire about scholarship availability or working out a payment plan.

After purchasing a “ticket” for the class, please complete the enrollment form HERE.

Artist and educator Dana Karuza-Tulp enjoys working in a variety of media, and particularly loves using materials found in nature. She has previously taught at Catamount Arts, King George School, Grafton County Cooperative Extension, Wonder and Wisdom, and numerous other schools and community organizations. She is Outreach Assistant at the Old Stone House Museum.

Saturday, December 7, 2019, 1-5pm

Location:
Catamount Arts Center Classroom
115 Eastern Ave.
St. Johnsbury, VT

Instructor: Penny Hewitt

Enjoy the simple pleasure of creating a decoration or gift from materials responsibly harvested in the Northeast Kingdom. Utilizing techniques common to the Scandinavian and Russian styles of basketry, you will craft birds and stars using strips of inner bark from the paper birch, and also learn how these materials are harvested and prepared.

Workshop fee: $45 for Catamount Arts members and high school students/$50 for non-members; in addition, please bring a $20 materials fee, payable to the instructor. Scholarship funds are available for high school students; please call Anne at 802-748-2600 ext. 108 for details.

Registration deadline: November 29

Parents of high school students under age 18: Please complete an enrollment form HERE after paying for the workshop.

A craftsperson, teacher, homesteader, and homeschooling mom, Penny Hewitt lives with her family on a diversified farm in the Northeast Kingdom. Working with responsibly harvested and hand-processed materials from the forest surrounding her home, Penny seeks to create objects of beauty that are useful in everyday life. She is inspired by traditions of other cultures, and grateful for the opportunities of connection to people, place, nature, and self that her craft cultivates. Her experience with weaving includes teaching workshops, leading homeschool groups, and crafting for income.