The Sound of the Genuine

River Guerguerian

River Guerguerian has been inspiring audiences with his ecstatic and versatile percussion for over 30 years. Whether collaborating with world-class artists, supporting symphonies or creating his own dynamic explorations of rhythm, River’s devotion and attention to the vibrant life of the drum reverberate through the mind and soul of the listener.

As a highly regarded studio musician, River has recorded on over 300 albums and film soundtracks, including the John Cage documentary film, “I Have Nothing to Say and I Am Saying It.” Over the whole of his prolific career, he has performed and/or recorded internationally with such individual and groups as the BBC Concert Orchestra, Paul Winter Consort, Lizz Wright, Chuck Berry, Sophie B. Hawkins, Ziggy Marley, Gipsy Kings, New Music Consort, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble, and Talujon Percussion Ensemble. River also engineers his own percussion tracks for artists at his recording studio.

In 1994, River decided to sell all of his possessions and step off the grid. He resided in a wildlife sanctuary in the Himalayas, and partly in Northern Maui. The adventure lasted five years and led to his immersion, extensive research and experimentation in the realm of the physiological, emotional, and mental effects of sound.

Drawing upon his richly diverse experiences, River’s work spans a remarkable number of musical genres and traditions, both mainstream and obscure. His authentic and masterful sound are derived from an array of ancient and modern percussion instruments from the 30 countries he has visited. His compositions have been commissioned and performed by chamber ensembles, universities, modern dance companies, and international music festivals.

Lerita Coleman Brown

Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD,  Professor Emerita of Psychology, Agnes Scott College, is a spiritual director/companion, writer, retreat leader, and speaker.  She earned her BA from UC Santa Cruz and PhD from Harvard University. Lerita completed the Spiritual Guidance Program at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation and promotes contemplative spirituality, the living wisdom of Howard Thurman, and uncovering the peace and joy in one’s heart on her website, leritacolemanbrown.com and other social media platforms.

She appears in the documentaries, Back Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story, and The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song. Her book, When the Heart Speaks, Listen—Discovering Inner Wisdom was published in 2019. Her newest book, What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman was recently published. Lerita is a most grateful heart (28 years) and kidney (17 years) transplant recipient and survivor of several other medical ordeals.

Barbara Brown Taylor

Barbara Brown Taylor is a best-selling author, teacher, and Episcopal priest. Her first memoir, Leaving Church, won an Author of the Year award from the Georgia Writers Association in 2006. Her next three books earned places on the New York Times bestseller list. Taylor has served on the faculties of Piedmont College, Emory University, Mercer University, Columbia Seminary, Oblate School of Theology, and the Certificate in Theological Studies program at Arrendale State Prison for Women in Alto, Georgia. Her latest book, Always a Guest, was released in October 2020 from Westminster John Knox Press.

Rebecca Parker

Rebecca Parker is the Director of Mary & Martha’s Place, a women’s spiritual formation center in Atlanta, GA. Her work is the inner Christian tradition working closely with Cynthia Bourgeault over the past decade. She is a teacher of Wisdom Christianity, a student of sound, certified in Ayurvedic medicine, ordained in the Presbyterian Church USA, and a graduate of Yale Divinity School.