The First Church Music Seminar of the Canadian Diocese is Announced for February 27-March 2, 2002

The Canadian Diocese Music Committee, under the authority of the Synodal Liturgical Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and the Russian Orthodox Church of All Saints, Calgary with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, announce the first Canadian Diocese Russian Orthodox Liturgical Music Seminar: A Practical Guide to the Russian Kliros.

The goal of the seminar is to provide church musicians, including singers and choir directors, with some of the tools and skills they need in their constant objective of integrating the role of the choir in the divine services and raising the musical standard of their church choirs. It will also attempt to address common problems and establish the collegiality needed to address them here in Canada.

The faculty of the seminar will feature the noted Russian Orthodox choir director, Dr. Peter Jermihov of Chicago and will involve other prominent church musicians from Canada and the U.S. (to be announced).

The program will include:

• workshops on choir directing, vocal skills and reading
• practical approaches to working with small choirs and choral structure
• the typikon and tones
• presentations on the history and contemporary practice of Russian church music
• guidance on sources of music and texts
  

The seminar will be conducted primarily in English with Russian translation as required. Services will be in Slavonic and English.
The location for accommodation, meals, workshops and rehearsals will be the Holiday Inn Calgary-Airport, Ab, 1250 McKinnon Drive NE. The seminar will conclude with the participants singing the Saturday evening all-night vigil and the Sunday morning divine liturgy at the Church of All Saints, 905 Eighth Avenue NE.

The cost, including three nights accommodation, all meals and seminar costs is $290 CDN or $190 USD based on double occupancy. Contact the organizing committee for single and triple room rates. Each room has two queen size beds. Commuter rates (without accommodation or breakfast) are $145 CDN or $95 USD for the entire seminar.

Calgary is a bustling city with a population of a million. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, it is an airline hub and accessible by direct flights from nearly every major North American city. We recommend that you come a few days early or stay on a few days to see Calgary or visit the Rockies, just over an hour away, where you can enjoy some of the most breathtaking scenery and skiing on the continent.
Organizing committee contact information:

Canadian Diocese Music Committee: George Skok 416-483-2441 or gskok@istar.ca

Calgary Committee: Alix Ivanoff 403-293-7211

Website: http://www.ruskoka.com/CalgarySeminar.doc

Registration will be limited to 30 people. The deadline for registering is Feb. 15, 2003.