a five-day immersive retreat

Gong Intensive 2026

Five days in the mountains with nothing to do but play, listen, and go deeper with Mike Tamburo and Aniko Benedek in the Catskills.

RSVP for the Retreat
Sample Schedule
  • Icon of a calendar with a checkmark.

    Dates

    September 13–17, 2026

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    Location

    Catskill Mountains, NY

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    Experience

    All Levels Welcome

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    Included

    Food & Lodging

the invitation

An immersive retreat devoted to the art of gong playing, deep listening, resonance, and collective music-making held inside a creative sanctuary in the Catskills.

Gong Intensive is an immersive experience designed to deepen your relationship to the gong, sound, creativity, and listening itself with expert teachers, extraordinary instruments, and a small community of fellow participants. All levels are welcome.

Interior of a wooden yoga studio with blue mats and rolled-up towels arranged on the floor, natural light coming through large windows, and a high, vaulted wooden ceiling.
Kitchen with wooden cabinets, wooden ceiling with recessed lights, hanging pendant lights, and terracotta tile flooring.
People outside on a sunny day, sitting on white chairs and standing on grass surrounded by tall trees with sunlight filtering through
Interior of a wooden dome structure with purple fabric drapes hanging from the ceiling, windows letting in natural light, and seating with cushions and children playing with building blocks on a rug.
View of a house with a round roof and a small tower at the top, featuring windows, surrounded by trees and a partly cloudy sky with sunlight breaking through.
A bedroom featuring a wooden vaulted ceiling with exposed beams, large windows allowing natural light, floral wallpaper, and a bed with turquoise bedding and various pillows.
A small wooden sauna with a curved roof and dark shingles, located outdoors on a wooden deck, with trees and a bright blue sky in the background.
A dirt pathway running through a grassy field, surrounded by trees with vibrant fall foliage under a clear blue sky.
A spacious living room with wooden walls and ceiling, a large window showing trees outside, a bed on the left, a white armchair and hammock chair near the window, a round rug with pillows, a brass table, and a built-in wooden bookshelf on the right.
Looking out from the wooden interior of a dome-shaped structure at a clear blue sky with a few wispy clouds, leafless trees in the distance, and a flat landscape.
A cozy, rustic living room with wooden walls and ceiling, featuring a large window with a scenic outdoor view, a chandelier, a daybed with pillows, a round rug with cushions, a swing chair, a small white table, and a metal coat rack.
A bedroom with wood-paneled walls and ceiling, a window showing trees outside, a bed with pink pillows, and a nightstand with a lamp.
Aerial view of a wooden house with a sloped roof and multiple dormer windows, surrounded by a green lawn and trees.
A group of people walking on a dirt path in a park during sunset, with trees and grassy fields on either side.
A sunset scene with trees and a cloudy sky, with the sun partially visible near the horizon and casting golden light on the landscape.
Close-up of a stack of pancakes on a white plate with blurred background of a woman with long dark hair smiling.
A woman is sitting in a hot tub outdoors with a clear blue sky and leafless trees in the background.
A young deer with white spots on its back standing among dense green foliage and small branches in a forest.
Interior of a wooden house with curved arches, a small window, a cozy corner with a plush chair, and soft natural lighting.
A man with dark hair and beard in a pink shirt, holding a mallet, standing in front of a wall with several large brass gongs on display. The man appears to be explaining or demonstrating something to a group of people. 
The Experience

Move through the complete landscape of gong playing.

Over five days, participants move through the complete landscape of gong playing, from foundational technique to open improvisation, from individual exploration to collective orchestration.

Early sessions focus on developing sensitivity to the instrument: tone, resonance, mallet technique, dynamics, pacing, listening, and touch. As the week unfolds, the work opens outward.

Throughout the retreat, participants will work with gongs, resonance practices, and immersive sound experiences, and a bonus tuning fork workshop that expands the ear and deepens presence.

  • Collaborative sound-making

  • Creative risk-taking

  • Deep listening practices

  • Resonance & sustain

  • Improvisation

  • Composition

  • Ensemble playing

  • Guided orchestration

Reflection of a woman with glasses and curly hair, standing next to leafless trees against a partly cloudy sky, with a colorful scarf around her neck.

There will be time to play slowly.

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Time to experiment.

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Time to rest.

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Time to listen.

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Time to let the music settle into the body.

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There will be time to play slowly. • Time to experiment. • Time to rest. • Time to listen. • Time to let the music settle into the body. •

The common language throughout the week is listening.

A cozy living room with wooden beams, a large window, a white sectional sofa with yellow and maroon pillows, a fluffy round rug, musical instruments, and wall decorations.
A blackboard sign advertising Friday lunch with menu items including vichyssoise cold potato soup, kale Caesar salad, roasted delicata squash, and grilled chicken, with decorative flowers and pastries in the foreground.
Breakfast table with two egg dishes topped with cheese and vegetables, surrounded by empty plates, glasses, a bowl of berries, juice, coffee, and utensils.
A dining area with a large wooden table set with bowls, glasses, and pink flowers in vases, surrounded by wooden chairs, in a room with a high, wood-paneled ceiling and hanging pendant lights. 
What's included

Everything you need for five days of full immersion.

Your retreat includes all instruction and workshops, ensemble playing and guided improvisation, the Gongmatic listening experience, a tuning fork workshop with Samer Ghadry and a sound workshop with Aniko Benedek, plus gong concerts and evening sound baths throughout the week.

It also includes lodging, daily lunch and dinner with a self-serve breakfast, full access to the sauna, hot tub, and nature trails, and the quiet communal spaces where the resonance of each day has room to settle. Gongs and tuning forks will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own gongs or instruments if you would like. 

optional add-ons
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Massage sessions

Horse therapy experiences

The setting

A creative sanctuary in the Catskill Mountains

A sanctuary of over 100 acres designed for deep retreat, artistic exploration, and rest. Surrounded by forest, open sky, and mountain air, the property offers the kind of quiet that allows real immersion. Between sessions there is room to walk the trails, rest in the sauna, soak in the hot tub, or simply listen to the silence between sounds.

A cozy indoor gathering with people sitting at a table under warm hanging lights, wooden ceiling, and beams, with colorful fabric or ribbons hanging on the left wall.
People sitting and talking in a cozy room with large window showing trees outside, a vase of colorful flowers on a table, and a yellow cushion on the wooden floor.
A room illuminated with red lighting, containing various percussion instruments such as drums and cymbals mounted on racks, with a decorated wall overhead.
A scenic fall landscape with trees displaying vibrant yellow, red, and green leaves, a dirt pathway, and a bright blue sky. 
Who this is for

No prior gong experience is required.

Experienced players will find new territory. Beginners will receive strong foundations and support. This retreat is open to:

Experienced gong players

Complete beginners

Sound practitioners

Artists & creatives

Therapists & facilitators

Musicians & composers

People called toward deep listening

A Day at the Retreat

Sample Daily Flow

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    Morning

    Foundations & Listening

    Technique, listening practices, foundational exercises, and guided exploration.

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    Afternoon

    Creation & Ensemble

    Improvisation, composition, ensemble work, workshops, and collaborative experimentation.

  • Nighttime scene with a crescent moon and a crosshair focus symbol in the center.

    Evening

    Concerts & Sound Baths

    Concerts, Gongmatic experiences, sound baths, integration, and collective listening.

Sample Schedule

A Sample Five-Day Schedule

A glimpse of how the days unfold. Final timings will be confirmed closer to the retreat.

  • Sunday

    3:00 Check In

    5:00 -7:30 Dinner

    7:30–9:00 Welcome Circle and Gongmatic Concert

  • Monday

    9:00–12:00 Morning Session

    12:00–2:00 Lunch and Noon Break

    2:00–5:00 Afternoon Session

    5:00–7:30 Dinner

    7:30–9:00 Gong Concert with Mike

  • Tuesday

    9:00–12:00 Morning Session

    12:00–2:00 Lunch and Noon Break

    2:00–5:00 Afternoon Session

    5:00–7:30 Dinner

    7:30–9:00 Gong Bath with Mike, Leslie and Aniko

  • Wednesday

    9:00–12:00 Morning Session

    12:00–2:00 Lunch and Noon Break

    2:00–5:00 Afternoon Session

    5:00–7:30 Dinner

    7:30–9:00 Gong Bath with Mike and Samer

  • Thursday

    9:00–12:00 Morning Session

    12:00 Check Out

    12:00–1:00 Lunch

    1:00–3:00 Closing Circle

your teachers and guest teacher

the team

A man with long curly hair, beard, glasses, white shirt, and white pants standing against an abstract black oval pattern background with orange and gray lines.

Musician · Composer · Educator

Mike Tamburo

2,500+ concerts · 70+ albums released worldwide

Mike Tamburo is a world-renowned musician, composer, artist, and educator known for his transformational live concerts performed on a personally curated set of gongs, bells, hammered dulcimer, and other metal instruments.

A lifelong multi-instrumentalist, Tamburo has shared more than 2,500 concerts and workshops internationally and released over 70 albums spanning gong music, drone, ambient, ecstatic string music, folk traditions, experimental sound, and improvisation.

He is also a gong teacher, interdisciplinary sound artist, instrument builder, writer, and meditation teacher a creator of deeply immersive sound experiences that invite profound listening and transformation.

miketamburomusic.com

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@mike_tamburo

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A woman with long brown hair in white pajamas sits on a beige sofa, holding a percussion mallet and smiling in a cozy living room with a large gong nearby.

Sound Facilitator · Integration Therapist

Aniko Benedek

Founder of Sound Ceremony · MSW, Columbia University

Aniko Benedek is a sound facilitator, psychedelic integration therapist, and founder of Sound Ceremony.

She holds an MSW from Columbia University and has spent over a decade working in the psychedelic and healing arts space. Her training includes Polaris Insight Center for Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, fieldwork at MAPS, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and years of immersive work in sound-based facilitation and ceremony.

Her work is grounded in the belief that sound is not simply a tool, but a doorway into presence, resonance, and the inner healer already present within each person.

soundceremony.com

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@xoaniko

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Musician · Sound Healer · Educator

Samer Ghadry

1,000+ sessions · 4 solo albums · international touring artist

Samer Ghadry is a musician and sound healing practitioner who has played drums, guitar, and voice since a young age. He went on to tour with Matthew Dear and Dave Harrington, and record on multiple albums, including 4 of his own and Angel Deradoorian's Find the Sun.

In 2018, Samer began studying therapeutic sound spaces and methods with teachers from clinical to traditional and shamanic lineages. He focuses on intuition, safety, and musicality to bring clients into coherence.

He founded ToneCenter in 2018 and has given around 1,000 sessions at venues including The Rubin Museum, Sage+Sound, SAA, and Public Records. He also assists Dr. John Beaulieu (Biosonics) in person and online, raises 2 kids in Brooklyn, and plays golf in his free time.

tonecenter.com

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@samerghadry

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Investment

Reserve Your Place

Food and lodging are included. Choose the room that fits your needs.

  • Shared Room

    A communal way to experience the retreat

    $2400

    $2,900

    Five days of instruction & workshops

    Shared lodging of double or triple rooms

    Daily breakfast (self serve), lunch & dinner included

    Sauna, hot tub & trail access

    Reserve Shared Room

  • Private Room - SOLD OUT

    Your own quiet space to rest and integrate

    $3,400

    $3,900

    Five days of instruction & workshops

    Private lodging

    Daily breakfast (self serve), lunch & dinner included

    Sauna, hot tub & trail access

    PRIVATE ROOM SOLD OUT
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    Deposit

    A deposit reserves your place. If you need to cancel, 50% of the deposit is refundable.

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    Scholarships

    A limited number of scholarship spots are available. Mention your interest in the RSVP form and we’ll be in touch.

RSVP

Reserve Your Spot at Gong Intensive

Share a few details and we’ll be in touch with everything you need to confirm your place. This is an expression of interest no payment is taken here.

info@soundceremony.com

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(650) 332-4631‬

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Catskill Mountains, NY

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