The Teachers
“This was the best instruction I have received in 20+ years of professional training.”
Our founding story
In 1993, Tuscany Project co-founders Anja, Belle, BZ and Ron combined their skills as musicians, actors, singers and teachers to create an annual artistic singing retreat.
They designed a summer program where individuals could experience the power of voice and body as a celebration of the human spirit.
They shared the belief that music and especially singing can inspire transformations in people’s lives, and that artistic work enhances the ability to be fully present in the world.
Soon after they were joined by Dr Phillip Woods who has led many joyful gospel singing experiences at the Tuscany Project.
After a wonderful 33rd year, project co-founders Anja Struchholz, BZ Goldberg and Ron Roy have chosen to make 2026 their final summer at The Tuscany Project and move in other directions.
The Tuscany Project will continue under the leadership of project co-founder Belle Linda Halpern.
Note from Anja, Ron, BZ
To our many friends over the years, we thank you for being a part of our lives, for sharing your voices, and enjoying la dolce vita with us in Umbria Italy.
We all anticipate the transition to be easy and smooth and wish Belle continued success in carrying the project forward!
Note from Belle Linda
I will deeply miss my founding colleagues and friends, but I am excited about the future! I am very happy to share that Phillip Woods will continue in his roles as guest teacher/leader of Gospel Tuscany projects. I will absolutely carry the spirit of Tuscany Project forward and in ‘27, we will offer a Classic Tuscany Project June 5-12 at the Locanda with ample time to work on songs and a sharing at the end.
We will be a new International outstanding team– Flavia Chiacchella and I will be working with students on songs and also on group circle singing, Christian Pabst, who enjoys accompanying singers of all levels will be our pianist.
Shaynee Rainbolt has also decided to end her wonderful 16 year stint as our administrator to pursue other interests and she will be missed!
In ‘27 TP Alumna Anne-Marije Bussink will be our administrator and I am grateful to her for helping me rebirth the Tuscany Project
I so look forward to seeing you, or meeting you this summer and connecting through song!
Students in ‘24 got the opportunity to work with Flavia Chiacchella and here is what they said:
"Working with Flavia was a pure joy. I especially love her circle song work, blending with other voices around me–it was totally magical for me!"
Zuzana
"The interplay of body, movement and voice continues to resonate with me. Working with Flavia was truly inspiring and deeply enriching."
Karsten
"The sounds we created were novel, at times surprising, and always moving. The workshop was also a LOT of fun—a five star recommendation!"
Susan
"Flavia showed me how to use my voice and my body in a new, natural way, expressing my own story through my song."
Marianne
“The teachers created such a wonderful learning environment. I felt safe to experiment and learn, finding parts of my voice and myself that I didn’t know existed. They were an inspiration”
Please Note:
In 2027 the teaching faculty are Belle Linda, Flavia Chiachella and Christian Pabst
BELLE LINDA HALPERN
(Vocal Technique & Songs) a cabaret singer and actress, has taught singing since 1986 in Boston, San Francisco, Italy and France. Belle has performed at clubs and theaters in New York, San Francisco, Paris, Munich, Jerusalem, and Bombay. She has taught at Harvard University and the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA.. Belle is co-founder of the Ariel Group (www.arielgroup.com) and co-author of the best-selling Leadership Presence, a book about leadership and dramatic performance. She is also the founder of the non-profit Inspiring Educators, helping schools inspire, so students succeed.
She created the critically acclaimed show: CRAVINGS — Songs of Hunger & Satisfaction with Music Director/accompanist, Tuscany Project co-founder Ron Roy. The Boston Globe and Jewish Advocate named it their Best Theater of the year and it was nominated for an IRNE Award. The recording Cravings is available on Spotify. Click here to see video of Belle in the Studio. They also Created Songs Of Love and Social Consciousness: Celebrating the Centennial of Singer/Activist Martha Schlamme, Belle’s major influence. Most recently, she has been taking after fer teacher, performing with What the World Needs Now: Interfaith Coalition Singers, spreading hope, love and justice through music.
During the workshop, Belle will focus on the art of cabaret: connecting performers to their song and to their audience. We will work individually and together on vocal technique, interpretation, acting, stage presence, movement, telling a story through song, and moment to moment aliveness and joy on stage.
Here is a link to Belle performing in Moon Over Dark Street, a show with the jazz-hot tunes of Kurt Weill that tracks the devastation of the Second World War and the McCarthy Era.
FLAVIA CHIACHELLA
(Songs, Group Circle Singing)
A trained pianist and passionate singer, Flavia graduated in theory and solfeggio at the Perugia Conservatory and studied classical and jazz piano. In 2011, her encounter with Luisa Cottifogli opened her eyes to exploring the voice, and she joined her "Orchestra Vocale del Sabato".
From there, she developed a wealth of experience in polyphony and vocal improvisation. She is currently a host of Circlesong and is a member of Collettivo Cantincerchio-Italia and part of the vocal quintet project 'Oskar Boldre & Vocalia'. She has also founded and directed Comicoro with Silvia Laniado, where they combine vocal improvisation, polyphony and comic techniques applied to singing.
About her Teaching:
The voice is much more than a communication tool: it tells who we are, expresses emotions and creates relationships. Unique and unrepeatable, it is part of our identity. Through games of voice-body exploration, musical improvisation, and movement,my work invites us to rediscover a free, natural, and expressive voice, developing a greater awareness of our vocal and communicative possibilities. We will also work on comfortably singing a solo song, how to interpret it organically, and how to communicate a message in song through our voice and our body.
Her influences include Oskar Boldre, her teacher to this day, with whom she studied voice as an instrument and vocal improvisation, Bob Stoloff, Anita Daulne, Joey Blake, David Worm, Faraualla, Albert Hera, Charles Raszl. Flavia’s most significant experience was meeting Rhiannon and moving to Hawaii for 3 months in 2018 to study with her.
CHRISTIAN PABST
German pianist and composer Christian Pabst is a true storyteller. Christian has an original, strong and genre transcending voice as a pianist, composer and accompanist while being deeply rooted and connected to the greats of jazz. Finding inspiration not only in the arts but also in travelling and everyday life, his radiant music is very visual and inspires your imagination. “I want to create music that speaks to the heart and the mind alike” says the pianist.
Growing up in a small German village close to the French border, Christian always listened to his brother playing their 1980’s home organ as a child. Later, when he heard the local youth big band for the first time, he felt instantly connected to jazz and improvisation. His thirst for knowledge and understanding of music led him to study jazz piano and film music at the renowned conservatories of Amsterdam, Paris and Copenhagen.
Christian enjoys supporting and accompanying singers and is comfortable working with people of all levels!
Visit Christian’s website for more information on him and his work.
CHRISTIAN PABST "The Palm Tree Line" - Mambo (from "West Side Story") - Live in Italy
DR. PHILLIP WOODS - GUEST TEACHER GOSPEL
(Group singing and other delights) Born into a family of North Carolina preachers and singers, Phillip credits his early exposure to Gospel for his passion for music and its ability to transform lives. An acclaimed pianist, arranger, and choir director for church, community and theater groups for 30 years, Phillip’s extraordinary talent is known throughout the U.S.A. and abroad. He has recorded several CDs, and his vocals have been heard on national TV. His original music was featured as part of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company’s suite Frames, and he has starred in numerous theatrical productions, including A New Brain, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Songs For a New World. Singers are consistently moved by his spirited teaching, by his depth of passion and commitment to music, and by his lively sense of humor!
Find out more about Phillip at phillip-woods.com.
“No other word than MARVELOUS!”
ANNE-MARIJE BUSSINK
Administrator of the Tuscany Singing Project for 2027
Anne-Marije brings both a personal passion for music and a deep appreciation for the transformative power of the Tuscany Project, having participated five times herself. Music has been an important part of her life from an early age, beginning with eight years of playing the flute at school, followed by singing from the age of 15. She later studied acting for theatre and screen in Sydney, Australia. The Tuscany Project holds a special place in her heart, and she is delighted to contribute to the experience that has given her so much.
Previous GUEST TEACHERS and ADMINISTRATORS
Arina Isaacson
Dorte Koch
Eva Blechova
Gail Zarren
Hobart Yates
Ingvar Bengtsson
Johannes Theron
Marie-Paule Marthe
Paul Crabtree
Penelope Kreitzer
Shaynee Rainbolt
Steve Sweeting
Susan Robbins
Terese Genecco
Zuzana Froňková Macáková