History of the Band T. G. and Don became acquainted at poetry readings and other events in Woodstock's thriving cultural scene. Discovering a mutual love of classical music, and perhaps sensing a deeper affinity through their admiration of each other's performing, they got together initially to play Mozart piano and violin sonatas in Don's living room. Soon they started doing Vanini originals, and Allen Murphy's fretless bass rounded out the first line-up of The Princes of Serendip, who soon went public, playing at such (sadly now departed) venues as the Kathmandu Café in Woodstock and Rip's Café in Saugerties. Get a high resolution press photo. At the same time Vanini was invited by Benjamin Herndon of Rose Hill Records to record an album. The result was growth & gravity (1996), which also featured Julie Parisi and other fine local musicians. Julie quickly became an indispensable part of the band. Julie and T. G. had first met when they were both part of Esther Frances's Holographic Donuts. Their musical relationship eventually blossomed into their marriage. T. G., Don and Julie have now been performing as a trio for six years. The Princes of Serendip have appeared in coffeehouses, chamber music series, festivals, poetry venues, folk clubs, private parties, and peace rallies. They have captivated audiences of all ages from toddlers to senior citizens. The band's resident artist is Lisa A. Rings, whose artwork graces their album. A note on the band's name (by T. G.) In 1754 Horace Walpole coined the word 'serendipity' from the ancient tale of the three Princes of Serendip, who (according to Walpole) "were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of". A reading of the story doesn't, it seems to me, bear out Walpole's interpretation, but his coinage was a happy one, and the word and the concept have been deservedly widespread ever since. Serendip is an old name for Ceylon or Sri Lanka. The folk-tale has widespread and obscure origins from Persia, India, and Armenia among other places. One rainy autumn day I wrote a poem called The Prince of Serendip, involving a character of that name because I liked the ring of it. I subsequently set the poem to music, and eventually it became an early staple of our performances. When we sought a name for the still coalescing band, this one seemed natural. Some people say that Julie is a Princess rather than a Prince; but we feel that she's as much a Prince as Don and I are.

T.G. Vanini grew up, under the name of Laurie Kirby, in Hong Kong and England. He played violin from an early age and performed with many fine and obscure ensembles including an English folk-dance band named Black Pig, a French folk-rock outfit called Menerval, the strange and beautiful Breaking Ground, and the inimitable Fighting McKenzies. But it wasn't until after T. G. had established a career in mathematics - studying at Cambridge and Manchester, teaching in Paris and Princeton, and becoming a professor at Baruch College of the City University of New York, where he still teaches - that he started to take his songs and song-poetry seriously. As a result he decided to do something he would never have dreamed of before: singing in public. One New Year's Eve he had a job wandering from table to table at a fancy restaurant, playing the violin to beguile or embarrass the revelers and romantic couples. He decided to go as The Great Vanini, and the name, modestly shortened to T. G., stuck. You can explore some of T. G. Vanini's poetic-mathematical musings at his web page; and Professor Laurence Kirby has his own page. Julie Parisi Kirby is a singer/songwriter who has loved to sing since she was a little girl. Although too shy to perform as a child, she sang in choir and began voice lessons at age 16. She has performed with various local groups but found her home singing with T.G. Vanini and Don Yacullo in The Princes of Serendip. Julie says that singing is what gives her the most joy and makes her feel the most centered and connected. She has recently ventured into song writing and passionately believes that through finding, raising and sharing our voices we can create a world that has safe, life-affirming space for all beings. Don Yacullo has played the piano and composed music since the age of 5. He has been a classical accompanist, church organist, laborer, and special educator. He has performed and recorded music with classical and original rock and jazz ensembles (SeLah, Joe Montini, Joe Lentine) and currently performs all over the USA with Potential Unlimited, a troupe of exceptionally talented musicians who have developmental disabilities. Don has performed with The Princes of Serendip since 1995.