Ori Shalva

Ori Shalva, led by virtuoso traditional singer and multi-instrumentalist Shalva Makharashvili, is Canada’s foremost Georgian polyphonic vocal ensemble. Based in Toronto, the Makharashvili family brings to life one of the world’s oldest and most complex vocal traditions, offering performances praised for their “amazing harmonies” (Errol Nazareth, CBC *Frequencies*).

Georgian polyphony is a millennia-old singing tradition, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity and historically preserved through family-based singing. For Ori Shalva, this music is not a revival but a living practice—instinctive, communal, and rooted in family celebrations rather than staged performance. Their powerful, visceral harmonies evoke the mountain villages, rituals, and ancient histories of Sakartvelo (Georgia), creating an experience that transcends time and place.

Emerging from intimate family traditions, Ori Shalva has recently brought this rare art form to wider audiences through performances with Tafelmusik and presenters including SING! Toronto, Fabcollab, the Community Folk Art Council, Labyrinth Ontario, and BLOKMUSIC.