Alexander Lingas to Speak on Liturgical Music in America at St. Vladimir Seminary

Dr Alexander Lingas, professional church musician and seasoned scholar in the areas of historical musicology, Byzantine music, and Orthodox theology, will speak at the twenty-first annual Fr Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture on January 30 at St Vladimir’s Seminary. In a talk entitled “Culture, History, and the Future of Liturgical Music in America,” Dr Lingas will share a uniquely conversant perspective on contemporary concerns of liturgical music in light of historical patterns.

The Schmemann Lecture is held in honor of Fr Alexander Schmemann, renowned theologian who served as dean of St Vladimir’s from 1962 until his death in 1983. The series is devoted to theological excellence. Past guest speakers include Dr Albert Raboteau, professor of religion at Princeton University, Metropolitan George (Khodre) of Lebanon, and Fr Boris Bobrinskoy, dean of St Sergius Seminary in Paris.

Dr Lingas, an alumnus of SVS, is assistant professor of music history at Arizona State University but is presently at the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where he was awarded membership for the 2003-4 academic year. He holds a doctorate in Historical Musicology from the University of British Columbia and has completed postdoctoral study in Theology at the University of Oxford under the Rt. Rev. Dr Kallistos T. Ware. He is also director of music at St Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, Chandler, Arizona.

The 7:30 P.M. lecture will be held in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium following a 6:30 P.M. Vespers. It is free and open to the public. Travel directions and a downloadable flier are available on the seminary website, www.svots.edu. Visit the seminary website after January 30 for information about the recorded audio version of the lecture.

St Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary is a graduate school of theology, whose primary purpose is the preparation of leaders - both clergy and lay - for service to the Orthodox Church and the world at large. The seminary offers a Master of Divinity; a Master of Arts in Christian Education, Liturgical Music, and General Theology; a Master of Theology; and a Doctor of Ministry degree.

The seminary is located at 575 Scarsdale Rd. in Crestwood, New York, between Central Park Avenue and the Bronx River Parkway. For directions to the campus, or for more information, visit their web site: www.svots.edu.