On Sunday, June 30th, 2024, The National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians held their Church Music Ministry Reception for friends and supporters of church music. The program, which took place in the center of the bright and breezy exhibition hall of the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina, included several performances, along with the presentation of awards to distinguished musicians. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presented the Saint Romanos Medallion, the highest honor awarded to the church music ministry: those awarded included the”Eikona” group (Presvytera Marika Brown, Presvytera Stacey Dorrance and Chrysanthy Therianos), who performed a joyful Greek-inspired rendition of Doris Day’s Whatever Will Be, Will Be, which included such verses as “when I was just a girl I asked by Yaya what should I be.” John Michael Boyer, Protopsaltis and Director of Music at Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Orleans, LA, also received the Saint Romanos Medallion for his exceptional dedication to the Church and Her music. Just a few of Mr. Boyer’s numerous accomplishments include his collaboration collaborated with five esteemed composers on Heaven & Earth: A Song of Creation, an English setting of Psalm 103 for the St. John of Damascus Society, along with a recent book titled Byzantine Chant: the Received Tradition – A Lesson Book.
On Monday, July 1st, members of the Forum will again offer their beautiful voices at the Joint Official Opening Ceremony of the Clergy-Laity Congress and National Philoptochos Convention. The National Forum is the Music Ministry of the Archdiocese and holds a meeting concurrent with the Clergy-Laity Congresses, this one in San Diego.
National Chairman Nick Chimitris, will lead the meeting to discuss the progress on projects undertaken throughout the year, including the Saint Romanos Church Music Festival, Directors Certification Program, Music Education for Young People, Liturgical Guidebook, Anastasiou Liturgy publication in English as well as updates by the eight Church Musicians Federations which comprise the National Forum.
The National Forum will also present a workshop during the Congress entitled, “Creating a Singing Parish,” to take place on Tuesday, July 2nd at 9 am. This workshop will share ideas for building a parish program of church music that extends beyond the choir and chanters. Participants will also receive information about the various Archdiocese and National Forum materials and resources available to encourage greater parishioner participation in the singing of hymns.
The National Forum encourages all congress participants to attend the forum’s sessions as they strengthen and develop this vital Archdiocesan ministry!
See the full 2024 Clergy-Laity Congress schedule here.