Invitation & Details on the 1999-2000 Semester for the Archieparchial School for Cantors at SS Cyril & Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary

November 13, 1999; February 5, 1999; and March 4, 2000.

This year there will be three Saturday workshops: November 13, 1999; February 5, 2000; and March 4, 2000. We are looking forward to welcoming you for these days dedicated to our Liturgy, our music and our ministry as cantors.

Thank you very much for all your suggestions submitted on the evaluations at the completion of last year's sessions. Your input and valuable ideas have been helpful in our planning. This year's program reflects our response to your needs as cantors.

What will change? This year we will place more emphasis on the skills you need to serve our church as cantor. Through the use of small groups, you will be able to work at the pace and the level you choose. These groups will allow for emphasis and in-depth practicing of techniques and musical skills that are required to effectively lead a congregation.

These groups will address various levels of learning. The beginning level will presume little or no knowledge of music and will carefully explain musical notation, pitch selection and basic singing skill. The levels will gradually progress, based on more knowledge of our chant and ability to sight-read. The most advanced group will practice applying our tones to un-noted texts. And yet another group will be designed for young and future cantors, specifically geared toward those of high school age.

This year's program will include some new speakers, directors and composers of music in the Eastern Churches, among whom are J. Michael Thompson, director of the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle in Chicago, IL and liturcyist/musician at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in St. John, IN, and Professor Vladimir Morosan of Mussica Russica in Madison, CT. They will speak at the general session and will also be involved with the small croup workshops.

What will be the same? We hope you will be with us again! Also, the same team you met last year will be leading the days. We will continue to have "formation" themes each of the Saturdays. We will pray together as we did last year, beginning the day with the Divine Liturgy and ending with the celebration of Vespers. You will also be able to meet again with cantors from around our Archeparchy (and from our sister eparchies!) and exchange ideas and materials with the friends you met last year.

If you can be with us for our Cantor School this year, please take the time to complete the form included with this letter. Please be sure to indicate which level workshop you feel suits your needs as a cantor. Let us continue to pray for each other. May God bless and support you in your important work in our Church as cantor and leader of music.

Program

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