The Winter Sacred Music Institute of our Archdiocese concluded on Sunday, February 23rd with a special rehearsal of our St. Michael Choir with our Director, Art Danks. The rehearsal took place at 1:30 p.m. with the aid and assistance of the professional choral directors of our Archdiocese, following a full three days of speakers, workshops and rehearsals, that included two Divine Liturgies. The entire experience demonstrated to us the limitless possibilities of building a worshipping community.
On Saturday, February 22nd, following the “Saturday of Souls Divine Liturgy,” our guests were provided with a guided tour of our new church sanctuary by Father Timothy Baclig. Click on to the following link to hear their voices singing the Hymn to the Theotokos in the church under construction: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.andfamily.5/videos/10222767660439540/
Pictured below are members of the Department of Sacred Music Faculty (from left to right) Chris Farha (Music Coordinator for the Diocese of Mid-America and Choir Director of St. George Cathedral in Wichita, Kansas); V. Rev. John Finley, Chair of the Department of Missions and Evangelism; Mareena Boosamra Ball, the newly-appointed Chair of the Antiochian Archdiocese Department of Sacred Music, from Holy Resurrection Church in Tucson, Arizona; V. Rev. Timothy Baclig, Host Pastor of St. Michael Church in Van Nuys, and Keynote Speaker; Regina Ashie Roum (Music Coordinator of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, and from St. Andrew Church in Riverside, California); Charlie Marge (Music Coordinator of the Diocese of Boston and New England and the Choir Director of St. Mary Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts); Khouriye Nancy Long (Music Coordinator of the Diocese of Charleston, Oakland and the Mid-Atlantic and from St. Elias Church in New Castle, Pennsylvania); [missing from picture: Deacon John El-Massih, Assistant to the Metropolitan and Keynote Speaker; Mr. Chris Howard, Institute Coordinator; Mr. Christopher Holwey, (Music Coordinator for the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest and past Chair of the Department of Sacred Music [2006-2015]
One-third of the Institute Registrants were attended by young adults who have participated in the Archdiocese Youth Music Ministry (YMM) for the training of young church musicians. The Summer Sacred Music Ministry Institute will take place at the Antiochian Village from July 16-19, 2020. Some of these young adults are pictured below.
We again thank the hard working efforts of Subdeacon Richard Ajalat, Pastoral Assistant, and the women who assisted with the meals provided for our guests (from left to right): Bobbi Monsue, Samia Habib, Pat Malouf, Randa Tarbouche, and Subdeacon Mitry Ajalat.