Photo by Becki Senft

2009 Fall Writing / Camping Retreat announced!

John's Upcoming Events & Performances

The new CD, Ecstasy & Longing, is here!!!

Complete Lyrics of the album, with occasional commentary

Read the ecstasy & longing cover story in the Frederick News-Post by Lauren Larocca and listen to some music!

Now available!    The Secret Work - 52 Poems and One Essay

read what people are saying about John's writing retreats ...

The Secret Work - 52 Poems and One Essay

Drunk on Light - an in-depth interview by Jeremy Barnes

Lifting The Veil, an Interview by Deborah Collins

Drinking At the Well, an Interview by Jane Juran

Selected Poems : Read John's Poetry

John's Biography

Voices in the Hall

Black Bread & Blood Oranges
John Terlazzo interviewed by Bill Myers

Perfect Chords
Concert Review (3/27/04) by Deb Mandour
The Pour House, Westminster, MD.

Review of Hand Of Mercy by Judith Gennett
The Green Man Review, Portland, Oregon

Listen to John's Music (MP3s)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

July 9th - John Terlazzo reads his poetry for the Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel at Midtown Cinema.
250 Reily St. Harrisburg, PA. 17102 at 7pm. Free.  John will read poems, tell a few tales & likely sing a song or two.
Open Reading during the course of the evening for those who'd like to read

Saturday June 13th - Terlazzo & Machusick play & sing at the opening of  Positive Image Studio at 4:30pm.
323 N. Queen, Ste.120, Lancaster, PA. 17603.  Free & open to the public. www.positiveimagestudio.com

August 1st - RESCHEDULED Baer Ridge Concert!
John Terlazzo & Voices in the Hall will perform at the rescheduled Summer Solstice Concert (which had been
rained out a few weeks ago) at Baer Ridge, followed by a campfire & drumming circle. Swimming & rustic camping available.
The concert is at 7pm.  $8  Bring a blanket or chair & drums if you like.
4700 Baer Ridge, Hellam, PA. 17402  (Note:  Hellam is sometimes spelled Hallam - same town)

Saturday, August 8th - Terlazzo & Machusick  8:00 PM at Eight Stones Yoga  2805 Eastern Blvd, York, Pennsylvania 17402  Cost: $8  - John Terlazzo & Kristina Machusick will perform another in a series of concerts in Yoga centers. Original songs with some folk tales & a poem or two thrown in. Bring voices & drums for singing & chanting!

Saturday September 19th, 2009 - Terlazzo & Machusick at private house concert in East Berlin (PA) area - some limited invitations may be available.

RECENT EVENTS:

Friday, May 8th - John Terlazzo & Kristina Machusick at the Good Life Cafe - Excellent vegetarian natural meals & live music too!
7-10pm  The Good Life is at 26 N. Hanover St. in Carlisle PA 17013, on the edge of Dickinson College. THIS SHOW WILL BE RECORDED FOR THE NEW NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO SYNDICATED PROGRAM THE GOOD LIFE LIVE - COME, BE HEARD & CELEBRATE WITH US!

May 2, 2009 - Terlazzo & Machusick In Concert at Eight Stones Yoga, 2805 Eastern Blvd. York, PA. 17402
Concert at 8pm, $8 at the door.  Another in a series of concerts at Yoga Centers.  Lots of opportunity to sing & chant
along - bring drums if you like.

Monday May 4th at 7pm - Poetry Reading  by John Terlazzo  followed by an open reading -

Borders Books & Music
3000 Whiteford Rd. in York PA.
Free

April 11, 2009 - Terlazzo & Machusick In Concert at the Blue Elephant Arts Cooperative,
4a West 5th St. in Frederick, MD. 21701  Concert at 8pm (doors open at 7) $8
Feel free to bring a lawn chair or floor cushion to sit on (lots of floor space at the Elephant, but not so many chairs).

April 25 & 26, 2009 - Terlazzo & Machusick In Concert at the Block Island Poetry Project  along with renowned poets
Carolyn Forche, Richard Tillinghast & Grace Wells.  Over the 4 day weekend (23 thru 27), entitled Poetry & the (He)art
of Healing, Archetypes, & the Glorious Call to Write.  John & Kristina will perform two concerts as the only musical
guests alongside these featured poets.  In addition, John will lead a writing workshop during the course of the weekend.
On Block Island, Rhode Island - For further information, rates, etc. contact bipoetryproject.com

Feb. 2nd - The Secret Tells Its Self: Writing as a Contemplative Act   -   Poet, Singer/Songwriter John Terlazzo returns once again to Martin Memorial Library to lead the 8 week FREE Contemplative Writing program. Terlazzo has been leading The Secret Tells Its Self for twenty plus years & this is the third year in a row that the Library is sponsoring the program FREE to the public. Participants will meet Monday nights, February 2nd through March 30th (but with no class on March 2nd) from 6:30 -8:30 pm. Martin Memorial Library is on the corner of Queen & Market Streets in the center of downtown York, PA.

"Some people spend their whole life in a cage, counting on the jailer to bring them sustenance.  Then they act surprised when no liberation comes. Only a few turn their backs on the warden, become smoke & curl effortlessly, in spires, through the bars."

Feb. 12th - JOHN TERLAZZO presents Into the Wilderness at York College.  John will tell folktales from Asia - Sufi, Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, Sikh & more. FREE & open to the public.  11am in the William Walker Room of the Student Union Building.

Feb. 27th -Mar. 1st - Courting Transcendence:  Story & Contemplative Writing     Gioia Timpanelli & John Terlazzo

Gioia Timpanelli may be the most respected master of the ageless art of storytelling in the world today. Poet/singer/songwriter John Terlazzo first saw Gioia in 1980 telling stories with Joseph Campbell and Robert Bly: “What she did with story blew a spark into my chest that over the years has turned into a raging bonfire.” 

We live deeply through story, song, ideas, writing, and reading aloud, and we do so to actively court transcendence. Modern consumerist culture trivializes our natural human longing to imagine and create ­– it’s a tragedy beyond words. But using the natural creative energies that we – all of us – possess is the difference between real freedom and servitude.

Gioia says, “The world is falling apart because human beings have stopped doing their real work.” Our work, now, is to nourish the seed within ourselves – and the external – that reclaims the deep mysteries of story telling and creative writing. Both, when approached with conscious intention and open hearts, are contemplative acts – they are ways to ignite one’s soul and give rise to one’s true nature. An impossibly fast pace, a lack of silence, and a media “bombardment” have begun to atrophy that part of the brain that understands metaphor and subtle thinking. When we cease creating images, we lose the ability to imagine. But when we actively pursue the deep images in story and in our psyches, subtle thinking is reborn, and we restore what it means to be a human being.

Old and ancient tales, rich with images and told from tongue to ear, psyche to psyche, raise us up to hover above the stones. Throughout the weekend, we’ll engage, together, through marvelous stories, poems, and songs, in writing experiments, reading aloud, discussion, and deep listening. This is for experienced storytellers and writers as well as those “who’ve always wanted to.”

Click if you would like to read two articles we published in our newspaper The Center Post.

To be in Gioia Timpanelli’s presence is to participate in the mystery of story. An early and central figure in the worldwide storytelling revival, she won the Maharishi International Award for “promoting world harmony wherever she goes by enlivening within the listener that field of pure consciousness that is the source of all stories.” She has taught at CUNY, Pace University, and The New School; founded Storytelling at Art Park, and co-founded the New York City Storytelling Center. Tales from the Roof of the World: Four Tibetan Folk Tales and Sometimes the Soul: Two Novellas of Sicily are beautifully written, and her new novel, What Makes a Child Lucky, was just published in the fall of 2008.

“Maybe the finest storyteller I’ve ever known.”
- Andre Gregory

John Terlazzo is a poet, painter, singer, songwriter, and storyteller who performs and records with his band, Voices in the Hall. He has led The Secret Tells Itself: Writing as a Contemplative Act for close to 20 years with people of all ages and in all walks of life. He has published four collections of poems, including, most recently, The Secret Work: 52 Poems & One Essay, and six collections of  recorded songs, including the newly released Ecstasy & Longing.

 

Friends, this weekend is shaping up beautifully & I'm writing to encourage you to register now, while there's still some room.  I'm guessing you know how I feel about Gioia's work; what a wonderful vessel she is - what flows through her is the kind of timeless nourishment that this culture so desperately needs, especially now in these critical days of great Hope & Wonder.
    When I think of the Old World, one ideal image that often arises is that of a society that recognizes its finest artists as Cultural Treasures.  An artist - in this case a master storyteller - is understood to be a great catalyst for growth of the collective Imagination - not just his or her own - and is deeply revered for this.  If we were a civilized country, either television wouldn't exist at all, or if it did, we'd be watching people like Gioia Timpanelli, Robert Bly & Babatunde Olatunje, instead of the perversely named American Idol.
What I mean to say, friends, is that it is a great opportunity & honor for me to be teaching beside Gioia, and for all of us to be attending the upcoming program with her.  The weekend is shaping up nicely, and I'm really hoping that you'll come & share it with us.  Please join us at Rowe for the last weekend in February.
    Gioia, of course, doesn't know that I've said these things to you.  If she did, she'd let out a long string of musical Sicilian epithets, & then kick my ass.  Please, let's keep this between us.
All Good Things,
John

Register Online

CD Release Concert November 21st at 7:30 pm
Please join us for this special concert in celebration of the release of our new CD ...

               Ecstasy & Longing

Friends,
       After 20 months of recording & mixing with our good friend Doug Smith, Ecstasy & Longing is finished & back from duplication in Philadelphia.  This really is the album I've always wanted to make, and this particular concert will be a very special night for us - a quiet concert by candlelight, with some folktales told, a poem or two, & an opportunity for all of us to raise our voices together.  Kristina & I will offer new songs from the album, songs praising Love & the Mystery, as well as a couple of new songs not yet recorded.  As always, we invite you to bring others from another generation. 
       If you have pre-ordered a copy of Ecstasy & Longing, you can pick it up at the concert.  If, for some reason you can't make it, we'll mail it to you shortly thereafter. Please RSVP if you're coming - it will help us in our planning.
All the Best,
John

John Terlazzo & Kristina Machusick
( Original songs on guitar, vocals, flute, Indian harmonium & recorders)
In concert at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York
925 S. George St. York, PA. 17403 (Consult Mapquest for directions)

$8 donation for the musicians & the use of the hall ($5 for those under 18)

www.myspace.com/johnterlazzo
Thank you for supporting live, original music, poetry & song.

LIVE IN THE EMPIRE OF FOOLS released by John Terlazzo & Voices in the Hall.

Live in the Empire of Fools is a collection of live recordings of the band from various recent public concerts at the Pour House, the UUCY and the Unitarian Church of Lancaster. Unlike most live albums, Empire of Fools consists of 16 songs that are not available on any previous recordings. While you may know some of these songs from our performances, others will be brand new to many of you - and none had been recorded before.

August, 15 2008 John Terlazzo & Voices in the Hall at Just Plain Yoga
1845 Market St., Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011
Cost : $8 Another in a series of concerts in Yoga centers. Details to follow soon.

August, 28 2008 John Terlazzo at The Crimson Frog Coffeehouse
Cedar Cliff Mall, 1104 Carlisle Rd, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011
Cost : Free  7-9 PM John Terlazzo reading from his poems at 8pm with an open reading before & after.

October, 25 2008 John Terlazzo & Voices in the Hall at Kin House Concert
6221 Vista Lane, Wrightsville, Pennsylvania 17368
Cost : $8  The concert will take place in Dave Kin’s amazing hand-built straw-bale house, under the huge Buddhist Manjushri mural painted by Bulgarian icon painter Alex Rosenkreuz. The house is located next to Sam Lewis State Park. Details to follow soon.

July 20th - JOHN TERLAZZO will speak & sing during the Sunday morning service at the UNITY CHURCH OF HARRISBURG, 927 Wertzville Rd. Enola, PA. 17025.  John's topic will be Opening God's Cage, concerning the transcendence of patriotism, religion, personality & ego.  Begins at 10am.

June 29th - JOHN TERLAZZO will speak & sing during the Sunday morning service at the UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF YORK, 925 S George St. York, PA. 17403.  John's topic will be An Open Letter to the Young.  The UUCY is a liberal religious community that welcomes all people without exception & that is dedicated to the inherent worth & dignity of all.  We'll look at how our commodity - conscious culture has exploited the young, empower our young & ourselves to rise above the damage done, & wind up the morning chanting kirtan.  Begins at 10 am.

June 20th - JOHN TERLAZZO & VOICES IN THE HALL- performing at Yoga Home, 1750 S. Queen St. York, PA. 17403
John, Kristina & Todd in a beautiful, intimate, candlelit yoga studio for an evening of original song.  It's a comfortable, inviting, open studio, so bring a cushion or something similar to sit on & melt into the floor.  Doors open at 7:30, music to follow. $8

May 17th - JOHN TERLAZZO & VOICES IN THE HALL (JT - vocals, guitar, harmonium, Kristina Machusick - vocals, flute & recorders & Todd Clewell - vocals, guitar, mandolin, violin & viola) MARGIE LEWIS HOUSE CONCERT, 690 Kendale Rd. Red Lion, PA. 17356 (Consult Mapquest).  Parking in the driveway & designated across & along the road.  Music at 7pm.  $8 donation at the door.

May 12th - Into the Wilderness, An Evening of Stories, Discussion, Poems & Ideas with John Terlazzo, at MARTIN LIBRARY, corner of Queen & Market Sts. in downtown York, PA.  Spurred on by a story here, a poem or folk tale there, we will move together into that "wilderness" - that deep space within where modern culture so often forbids us to go.  Our intention here is to create the opposite of "barking head" TV antagonism - ours is a discussion of warmth & dignity where eyes are looked into & we wonder & breathe together. ONCE AGAIN WE INVITE YOU TO BRING SOMEONE OF ANOTHER GENERATION. If you are a young person, please invite an elder.  If you are an elder, please invite the young.  If that is not possible, by all means please bring yourself.  The last time we did this, it was a huge success.  All are welcome - admission is FREE.

May 3rd - JOHN TERLAZZO (Solo) in an evening of songs, poems & tales at the FREDERICK COFFEE CO. 100 N East Street, Frederick, MD 21701, 8-10PM

April 11th - JOHN TERLAZZO & KRISTINA MACHUSICK, and also featuring CHRIS DAVIS - BENEFIT CONCERT
Potluck meal at 6pm, Music to follow.  290 Woolen Mill Rd.  New Park PA. 17352 (in the farmhouse).  Consult Mapquest for directions. Free will donation. (Our good friend, Kalyani, has a loved one in Nepal who is dealing with cancer.  Nepal has no healthcare benefits & no socialized medicine & so this woman is having to deal with the costs of chemotherapy on her own.  The very good news is that while the cost of treatment appears to be way out of her reach as a Nepali national, it is very inexpensive by our standards - it's pocket change for people like you & I.  We can raise it (having a good time) in a single night.  Please join us...)

April 26th - JOHN TERLAZZO & KRISTINA MACHUSICK, in concert to open an exhibit of John's paintings at the BLUE ELEPHANT ART GALLERY. Doors open at 7, Music at 8.  The Blue Elephant is at 4a W. 5th St. Frederick, MD. 21701 (Consult Mapquest) $8 at the door.

Wednesday, February 6th - John Terlazzo will read from his new book, The Secret Work: 52 Poems & One Essay, 7PM at Martin Memorial Library, corner of Queen & Market Sts. in the center of York, PA. Sponsored by Martin Library, the evening will be hosted by Jeremy Barnes, who recently interviewed John in the one-hour program, Drunk on Light.

December 12th - John Terlazzo will read from his new book, The Secret Work: 52 Poems & One Essay , 7PM at the Frederick Coffee Company, 100 N East Street, Frederick, MD 21701

Friday, September 21st at 7pm - John Terlazzo will read from The Secret Work, along with poets Barbara DeCesare & Dana Sauers at Dickinson College, at 25 W. High St. Carlisle, PA. 17013 (across from the Carlisle Theatre).  Open Reading to follow.  Consult Mapquest for directions.

POETRY READING - Poetry Reading Monday night Aug. 27th at 7:30pm. John Terlazzo reads from his new book of poems, The Secret Work: 52 Poems & One Essay, at the Reader's Cafe. The reading is at 7:30pm, followed by an open Mic, so bring your poems. Copies of John's book will be available on the premises that evening. The Reader's Cafe is at 125 Broadway, Hanover, Pennsylvania, 17331 (717) 630-2524. Consult Mapquest for directions.

Sunday, July 22nd at 10am - I'll be doing a talk & leading the service at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York, a liberal religious community located at 925 S. George St.17403 (just off of Rte. 83, consult mapquest.com for directions). Below is a description from the congregation's Beacon.

Against the harsh backdrop of a culture born of consumption, greed & violence, we find there is another kind of Madness - a deep, tender Madness wherein lies grace, Liberation & the path to a true sanity beyond words, beyond any dogma.  We'll bathe in these sweet, mad waters together & end the service with Kirtan.

Monday May 14th - Vonnegut Reading - Southern York County Library, Shrewsbury, PA at 7pm

Monday May 7th - Vonnegut Reading - Guthrie Memorial Library in Hanover, PA at 12 Noon

Monday, Apr. 30th at 7pm - Vonnegut Reading - Martin Library  - Poet John Terlazzo will read from Vonnegut’s books including:

Slaughterhouse Five,

A Man Without a Country

And more!

Free & Open to the Public.   Hi Ho!

Thursday, March 8th, 7PM - Poetry Reading - John Terlazzo will read poems from his upcoming new book, The Secret Work. Poetry Thursdays at the Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg Pa 17101

Wednesday, Feb. 21st at 7pm - Poetry Reading - Frederick Coffee Company  - John Terlazzo will read poems from his upcoming new book, The Secret Work. 100 N East Street, Frederick, MD 21701

Friday, Feb. 2nd at 7:30 pm - JOHN TERLAZZO - Full Moon House Concert at the home of Bill Myers & Sandy Means, 790 Spring Lane, York, Pa. 17403. click here for more info

January 24th - JOHN TERLAZZO - solo concert - An evening of Poems, Stories & Songs at Warren Wilson College, Ashville, North Carolina

Email John: jterlazzo@verizon.net

photograph by Lori Stahl Photography

updated Nov. 9th  '08 by Bill
Site created by Dawn J. Walton