The XVth Church Musicians’ Conference Ends
After 3 Days of Work, Conferees Sing Liturgy in Protection Cathedral

The XVth Church Musicians’ Conference, organized by the Church Music Commission under the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, took place October 2-6 at Protection Cathedral in Chicago.

The program of the Conference consisted of lectures, working groups, rehearsals and — most importantly — participation in the divine services. Seventy-five participants gathered at the Conference, mainly from the USA and Canada. Lectures were given by Archbishop Alypy (‘Samopodobny/Avtomela’: The Development of Textual and Music Relationships), M. Ledkovsky (The Musical Inheritance of Archbishop Gabriel of Chelyabinsk), Evgeny Kustovsky (The Current Status of the Obikhod in the Moscow Usage), Deacon Gregory Dobrov (Octoechos and Cultural Translation: Music Verse, and Calendar), Vladimir Krassovsky (Church Services for Various Occasions during the Paschal Season), Georgy Safonov (Comparative Analysis of Regional Obikhody in Russia), Vladimir Morosan (The Relationship of the Octoechos to the Creative Process in Orthodox Liturgical Singing) and Peter Jermihov (Kastalsky’s Expressive Singing of Stichera — An Appraisal).

At the Conference, working sessions were also conducted: choir directing, application of the Sputnik Psalomshchika [Church Singer’s Companion] on the kliros, computers and church notation, voice technique and the Typicon.

The Chairman of the Church Music Commission, the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan Laurus, was present at the Conference. On Sunday, 6 October, Vladyka Laurus presided at the Divine Liturgy. The Ruling Archbishop, the Most Reverend Archbishop Alypy, concelebrated with him. At the Vigil, the participants sang antiphonally on two klirosy (in Church Slavonic and English), and at the Liturgy, one choir sang.

It is proposed that the next Conference take place either at the SS Peter and Paul Church in Santa Rosa (Western-American Diocese) or at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Montreal (Canada).