Georgia Singing Journey

Swan Dao is a psychotherapist, public speaker, and educator dedicated to transforming lives through creative expression. They hold an MFA from the Ecole Jacques Lecoq, specializing in physical and applied theatre, an MA from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in personal and social transformation from the University of Cambridge. As the director of the Institute of Devotional Arts, Swan leads a global network of artists, therapists, and educators who use art and imagination as catalysts for healing and self-discovery. With over 15 years of experience teaching and guiding groups, Swan’s work integrates psychology, mind-body practices, and the performing arts, inspiring deeper understanding and meaningful engagement with the human experience.

Holly Taylor-Zuntz is a singer, choir director, and voice leader with a deep passion for Georgian polyphony. A graduate of Rose Bruford College in ensemble theatre, she has spent years travelling across Georgia,learning traditional songs directly from local singers. As the founder and leader of Oxford’s Georgian Choir, Holly brings her expertise in Georgian polyphony and embodied voice work to an international audience, guiding singers to explore the deep resonance and rich harmonies of this unique tradition. She has performed and recorded with the Georgian women’s ensemble Ialoni and recently spoke on Georgian television about the global rise of interest in these songs. Holly is also the co-founder of Voices of the Ancestors, the only podcast dedicated to sharing the stories and songs of Georgia with the world.


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The Chamgeliani Sisters – Ana, Eka, and Madona – are a trio coming from a long lineage of singers from the isolated and mountainous province of Svaneti. Keeping their oral tradition alive, they sing songs that have been passed down for centuries from generation to generation.

Ana, Eka, and Madona grew up in Svaneti and deep knowledge of the ecosystem and the culture in which the songs emerged. Ana, who is also a member of ensemble Sathanao, is a virtuoso on the ch'uniri, a 3-string bowed viol. Madona is an ethnomusicologist and scholar of Svan culture.Her research includes studying and recording ancient songs about the forest queen Dali. Eka is a housewife and plays an important role in hosting guests at their home in the village of Lakhushdi. All three sisters are at the helm of the effort to preserve and continue the singing tradition of Svaneti.

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Avtandil Turkia (Avto) is a singer, ensemble director, and music teacher with a lifelong dedication to Georgian traditional song-chanting. Coming from a family of singers, Avto’s heritage is steeped in music. He holds both a BA and an MA in traditional Georgian folk singing from Giorgi Mtatsmindeli University and Shota Rustaveli Theater University. Avto currently leads the ensemble “Mkhedrebi” and serves as the head of music at the Khukhunaishvili school. Together with his family — his mother Laliko, his wife Ninutsa, and their soon-to-arrive baby boy — Avto warmly welcomes guests, offering them an authentic connection to the soul of Georgian folk music.

Coming soon

Coming soon.