£250 from Rotary but more support needed for the Zarebi Choir!

Zarebi is a women’s Georgian choir, based in Hebden Bridge, led by musical director and professional musician Helen Curtis.  They perform regularly in various local venues, recreating the wonderful unique sound created by Georgian harmony and voicing (described by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the oral heritage of humanity).  Last year they travelled to Bulgaria, where they visited a similar polyphonic community choir called Pletenitza.  They exchanged songs with them, learnt new ones and gave a joint performance.  This year, Zarebi is hoping to welcome Pleteniza to Hebden Bridge for a return visit in September.  The Bulgarian choir’s mission is to keep old Bulgarian songs and customs alive and pass on the richness of their culture to future generations.  They look forward to making new friends, connecting with singers, choirs and audiences from here in the Calder Valley.  We hope that our Rotary Club’s £250 donation (subject to the visit going ahead) will help Zarebi offer a generous welcome to the visitors and we look forward to hearing some of the glorious music that the two choirs will perform!

However there is still a shortfall of funds and more kind donors are needed to help the visit go ahead.  To lend your support or learn more, please reach out to Zarebi via their website Home | Zarebi or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092182210300 

Here is a link to a clip from a recent performance by Pletenitza, which gives an idea of the choir and Bulgarian song: Pepa Vasileva и Даниела Минева | By МариелаFacebook

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