Santa Rosa, CA Site of Liturgical Singing Seminar

Saint Seraphim Orthodox Church here will be the site of a liturgical singing seminar February 8 and 9, 2002.

The seminar will be presented by PSALM, Inc., a pan-Orthodox society of Orthodox church musicians of various dioceses dedicated to the advancement, excellence, and growth of all traditions of Orthodox liturgical singing.

The seminar will focus on training singers spiritually, liturgically and musically. Among the topics to be discussed at the seminar are the ministry of liturgical singing, the role of melody in chant, the sanctification of time, conducting, rehearsal and vocal techniques, and sightsinging with solfeggio.

Speakers include Heiromonk Jonah [Paffhausen], Abbot of the Monastery of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco, Point Reyes Station, CA; Father Lawrence Margitich, rector of the the Protection of the Virgin/Saint Seraphim parish, Santa Rosa, CA; Alice Hughes, a member of PSALM, Inc.‘s Board of Directors and Editor-in-Chief of PSALM Notes; and Anne Schoepp, another PSALM board member and seminar leader since 1994.

The Seminar opens on Friday, February 8 with registration at 8:30 a.m. It will conclude with a dinner following Great Vespers at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, sung by antiphonal choirs. For those staying until Sunday, the Divine Liturgy will begin at 10:00 am. February 10.

Housing is available at the Good Nite Inn, about five minutes from the church. Participants are responsible for their own hotel reservations. To receive the group rate, make reservations under “73506 Orthodox Church” by January 29, 2002. A shuttle will be provided to the church. Contact the Good Nite Inn, 5040 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928; 707/584-8180 or 707/584-1725 (fax) for reservations. Other accomodations are available from the Double Tree Rohnert Park or the Best Western Rohnert Park.

The $90 registration fee includes Friday continental breakfast, lunch and dinner and Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner. To register or to obtain more information, please call Saint Seraphim Orthodox Church at 707/585-9445 or 707/584-9491.