Children's Ensemble of Tbilisi (Special Event)

Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington. D.C., which is 1 block from the Eastern Market Metro station.

The Choir of the Evgeni Mikeladze Central Music School (Tbilisi, Georgia) was created in 2010 to learn and perform the centuries-old traditional folk and sacred choral music of the Republic of Georgia. Singers range in age from 8 to 18. The group is conducted by Badri Jimsheleishvili, a professional singer who has toured in Europe and the U.S. as Director of the internationally-known Chanters Group from the Church of St Panteleimon the Healer, in Tbilisi.

Georgia is a land with a deep singing tradition, encompassing folk songs and liturgical chant from different ethnographic regions. Polyphonic singing in Georgia predates Western Europe by several centuries. Since Georgia established its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgians have been rediscovering their choral heritage while appreciation for this unique music grows internationally.

Last summer, 8 singers from the Childrens Choir traveled to San Francisco to participate in the Golden Gate International Choral Festival, where they gave 4 concerts during this festival and one additional concert outside the festival. The singers are returning to the United States in the summer of 2013 for appearances in Idaho, Montana and Washington, DC.

Admission to the general public is $15 / $13 for FSGW members. Tickets may be purchased on the Hill Center website at http://hillcenterdc.org/home/programs. For the FSGW discount, enter the code "FSGWM". Tickets can also be obtained by calling the Hill Center at 202-549-4172, or may be purchased at the door, on a space available basis.

For more information: Parker Jayne, 202-549-0744; Theadocia Austen 202-344-7044; or Hill Center, 202-549-4172