Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music: Registration open now through December 15th

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music is delighted to announce the opening of registration for the Spring Term 2023. Registration is open now until December 15th. Classes are scheduled to begin the week of January 1st and end the week of March 19th.

Please click the link to register https://asbm.goarch.org/register/

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music offers classes in the context of three terms: Spring, Summer, and Fall. Each term is scheduled for 12 weeks in duration. Prospective students may apply during the registration period.

Since reopening the school in 2022, there has been a significant increase in student enrollment, expansion of qualified faculty, and a robust demand throughout the United States for the opportunity to learn the traditional ecclesiastical music of the Orthodox Church.

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music aims to educate and develop competent cantors in the Psaltic Art. It uses a virtual learning platform that improves access to high quality education in the Psaltic Art to students throughout the United States.

The school is funded in part by the generous support of Leadership 100.

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Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music presents Regional Music Conference & Workshop in Mobile, AL

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, over 30 participants gathered this weekend for a Regional Music Conference & Workshop hosted by Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Mobile, AL.

The program was presented by the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music as part of its outreach efforts to inspire participants to be engaged in their respective music ministries and to pursue their education in Ecclesiastical music.

Participants included parishioners, chanters, choir members, and clergy representing 8 different parishes throughout the region.

His Grace, Bishop Sevastianos of Zelon, offered the opening prayer and officiated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday.

The program consisted of an introductory-level overview of Byzantine Music and a series of workshops where participants learned to chant hymns of Vespers, Orthros, and the Divine Liturgy. Many attendees also participated in live services by chanting in the choir led by Georgios Theodoridis, Archon Music Instructor, and Anastasios Fakinos, Instructor.

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music would like to thank Rev. Fr. Matthew Carter, Proistamenos and Vicar of the Western Conference of the Metropolis of Atlanta, and the entire community of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church for their extraordinary hospitality and heart-felt collaboration in hosting a successful and memorable event.

If you are interested in hosting a program like this in your area, please contact George Rallis at grallis@goarch.org.

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music is funded in part by the generous support of Leadership 100.

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ASBM Seminar held in Wilmington, North Carolina

On Sunday, July 31st, Georgios Theodoridis, Director of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music, offered a brief seminar at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Mr. Theodoridis spoke about the Psaltic Art and the educational program of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music. He provided information about the mission and vision of the school as well as future projects and initiatives.

During the seminar, Mr. Theodoridis recognized six parishioners of St. Nicholas who are current students of the ASBM. These six students serve their parish’s Music Ministry as choir members.

The Music Ministry at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is led by Michael Rallis, also a current student of the ASBM, who received his Certificate in Byzantine Chant from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in May 2022.

Mr. Theodoridis also accepted the invitation to conduct the local choir during the divine services that day. This provided an additional opportunity for the students to apply what they have learned in the context of a live service.

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music would like to thank Fr. Steven Klund, Proistamenos of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, for his warm hospitality and collaboration.

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Fall Registration open now through August 31st

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music is delighted to announce the opening of registration for the Fall Term 2022.  Registration is open now until August 31st.  Classes are scheduled to begin the week of September 4th and end the week of November 20th.

Please click the link to register

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music offers classes in the context of three terms:  Spring, Summer, and Fall.  Each term is scheduled for 12 weeks in duration. Prospective students may apply during the registration period.

Since reopening the school in 2022, there has been a significant increase in student enrollment, expansion of qualified faculty, and a robust demand throughout the United States for the opportunity to learn the traditional ecclesiastical music of the Orthodox Church.

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music aims to educate and develop competent cantors in the Psaltic Art.  It uses a virtual learning platform that improves access to high-quality education in the Psaltic Art to students throughout the United States.

Read more...

Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir performs Centennial Concert at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir was honored to perform at the Centennial Reception of the 46th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in New York.  The event was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was also part of the Centennial Celebration of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

This unique concert was the result of extensive collaboration between the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir and the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians. The conductors of each choir worked together to develop a music program that would showcase the repertoire of each choir individually.  For the finale, the choirs were combined to perform The Great Doxology (Grave Mode enharmonic) and The Great Prokeimenon (Grave Mode enharmonic).

The concert was introduced by the Rev. Fr. Romanos Karanos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Byzantine Liturgical Music at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA. Fr. Romanos provided a brief overview of Ecclesiastical Music in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America over its 100-year history and noted that the Ecclesiastical Music of today has its origins dating back to the first millennium.

At the conclusion of the program, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros recognized Georgios Theodoridis, Conductor of the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir, as a “Centennial Honoree” for his tireless work as the Director of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music and his devotion to the Psaltic Art.

The pieces performed by the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir are listed below:

  1. Gladsome Light, Mode 2nd
  2. I Will Come Into Your House, Mode pl. 4th
  3. Prokeimenon on Wednesdays, Mode pl. 1st
  4. A Good Word with kratema, Mode 4th aghia
  5. It is Truly Right, Constantinopolitan, Mode pl. 1st
  6. I Will Love You, O Lord, Mode 2nd
  7. I Will Bless the Lord with kratema, Mode pl. 1st
  8. Lord, Have Mercy, “Pentaehon” (in five Modes)

The Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir would like to acknowledge and thank its participants from the Centennial Concert (roster listed below). The choir was directed by Georgios Theodoridis, Archon Music Instructor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Director of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music.

Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir Roster for the Centennial Concert, “From Byzantium to America”:

Nektarios Antoniou, Protopsaltis

Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New York, NY

John Brakatselos, Psaltis

Church of the Holy Resurrection, Brookville, NY

Theodore Brakatselos, Psaltis

Church of the Holy Resurrection, Brookville NY

Philip Carallo, Protopsaltis

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Tarpon Springs, FL

Ian Chambers, Psaltis

Greek Orthodox Church of Our Savior, Rye, NY

Yianni Cote, Psaltis

St. Basil Chapel, Garrison, NY

Antonios Gementzopoulos, Psaltis

St. Theodore Greek Orthodox Church, Lanham, MD

Nick Giannoukakis, Protopsaltis

Metropolis of Pittsburg

Philippos Gurguliatos, Psaltis

Annunciation Cathedral, Boston, MA

Rick Hanson, Psaltis

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Fort Wayne, IN

Samuel Herron, Protopsaltis & Choir Director

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Scottsdale, AZ

Elias Hilaneh, Psaltis

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Tuscon, AZ

Isaac Hilaneh, Psaltis

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Tuscon, AZ

Rev. Fr. Andreas Houpos, Proistamenos

St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, Charlotte, NC

Rev. Fr. Romanos Karanos, Proistamenos

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Brockton, MA

Vasileios Karanos, Psaltis

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Brockton, MA

Dimitrios Katsiklis, Protopsaltis

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine, New York, NY

Elias Katsiklis, Psaltis

St.Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine, New York, NY

Rev. Fr. Theofanis Katsiklils, Assistant Priest

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Tarpon Springs, FL

Constantine Kokenes, Psaltis

St. Philothea Greek Orthodox Church, Watkinsville, GA

Yianni Mavrogiannis, Psaltis

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Paul, Hempstead, NY

Spyros Perivolaris, Lampadarios

St. Constantine Greek Orthodox Church, Kolonos, Athens, Greece

George Rallis, Protopsaltis & Choir Director

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Asheville, NC

Michael Rallis, Protopsaltis & Choir Director

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Wilmington NC

Nicholas Roumas, Psaltis

Sts. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, Marlboro, MA

Rev. Fr. Neofitos Sarigiannis, Proistamenos

St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Schenectady, NY

Michael Sellas, Psaltis

Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, Bowling Green, KY

Aris Spirtos, Protopsaltis

Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Washington DC, Silver Spring, MD

Christos Stavropoulos, Protopsaltis

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, New York, NY

Georgios Theodoridis, Protopsaltis & Choir Director

Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington, DC

James Tsimis, Psaltis

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Paul, Hempstead, NY

Ioannis Tziligkakis, Psaltis

Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, New York, NY

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Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir chants at historic and emotional Consecration Service of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine at the World Trade Center

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Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir chants at Consecration Service of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine at the World Trade Center

Last week the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir was honored to assemble at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine at the World Trade Center to chant Great Vespers of the Consecration on July 3rd and the Consecration Service on July 4th. The choir chanted the services in both Greek and English. The services drew over 1,300 participants to the World Trade Center and were broadcasted internationally as well.

For more information about this historic occasion, please visit: https://stnicholaswtc.org/

The Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir would like to acknowledge and thank its participants from this historic occasion (roster listed below). The choir was directed by Georgios Theodoridis, Archon Music Instructor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Director of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music.

Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir Roster for the Consecration of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine at the World Trade Center:

Nektarios Antoniou, Protopsaltis
Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New York, NY

Nick Giannoukakis, Protopsaltis
Metropolis of Pittsburg

Samuel Herron, Protopsaltis & Choir Director
Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Scottsdale, AZ

Dimitris Katsiklis, Protopsaltis
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine, New York, NY

Elias Katsiklis, Psaltis
St.Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine, New York, NY

Rev. Fr. Theofanis Katsiklils, Second Priest
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Tarpon Springs, FL

Dimitrios Kechagias, Protopsaltis
St. Anastasia Greek Orthodox Church, Kifissia, Thessaloniki, Greece

Yianni Mavrogiannis, Psaltis
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Paul, Hempstead, NY

Spyros Perivolaris, Lampadarios
St. Constantine Greek Orthodox Church, Kolonos, Athens, Greece

Christos Stavropoulos, Protopsaltis
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, New York, NY

Georgios Theodoridis, Protopsaltis & Choir Director
St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington, DC

Ioannis Tziligkakis, Psaltis
Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, New York, NY

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The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music scheduled to re-open under new Director with new offerings.

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music scheduled to re-open under new Director with new offerings. Online registration opens November 29, 2021. Classes to begin January 3, 2022. Space is limited.

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music is scheduled to re-open under new direction and with new offerings. Throughout its history, the school has primarily taught classes in-person to students residing in the New York area. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the school has been forced to reimagine its methods and offerings. The ASBM will now offer online learning, in small group classes which will be instructed by expert cantors who hold either a certificate or diploma in Byzantine Chant or advanced degree in Byzantine Musicology. Through the use of technology, the ASBM will be accessible to everyone with a computer and internet access.

For more information about the program, please click here.

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Patriarchal Divine Liturgy and Investiture of Archons held in New York, NY showcases bi-lingual byzantine chant in traditional melodies

Source

On October 31, 2021, His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York.

The music was selected and arranged by Georgios Theodoridis, Archon Music Instructor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Director of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music.

Selected cantors from throughout the Archdiocese formed two choirs and chanted the services antiphonally, the Right choir chanting primarily in Greek and the Left choir chanting primarily in English.

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Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir featured at academic convocation of His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew at the University of Notre Dame

Source

On October 28, 2021, the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir performed at the academic convocation of His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew at the University of Notre Dame. The choir, under the direction of Georgios Theodoridis, performed a program of Byzantine Chant, “Creation: From Adam to Salvation,” in both Greek and English.

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