who we are
CULOMBA ("dove" in Corsican)
is a professional vocal ensemble specializing in close harmony folk singing. Our repertoire includes American folk traditions, music of Georgia, Corsica, and the Balkans, renaissance music, and original compositions. Our singers have toured internationally and studied with masters of these traditions, bringing their eclectic specialties to this unique ensemble.
Our group is powered by longtime friendships, roots in New England singing communities, and passion for close harmony in all its forms. We formed in 2018 after years of singing together, both professionally and around the kitchen table. Our approach to all the music we touch is rigorous and expansive: It involves regular contact with tradition-bearers, tuning chords slowly, listening to crackly old recordings, and lots of collaborative arranging. Our shows combine this attention to detail with a relaxed stage presence that draws all kinds of listeners in; to quote one of our fans, “The group never fails to locate the music in the tradition, in a way that involves anecdotes, jokes, a well-placed comparison; you name it..[I]t pulls you into participation.” We believe that harmony singing nourishes us and our audiences, fostering empathy, connection, and curiosity.
In addition to concerts, we offer singing workshops, masterclasses, and educational residencies for high schools and colleges.
Culomba members include:
Sophie Michaux (mezzo-soprano; accordion)
Adam Jacob Simon (tenor/baritone; plucked strings; composer)
Lysander Jaffe (tenor, violin)
Lexi Ugelow (alto, percussion)
Daniel Fridley (bass; wind instruments)
Sora Harris-Vincent (alto)
Avery Sherman (bass)
