Holy Cross Celebration. 3rd Youth Singers Christmas Workshop + Choir Directors. Rehearsal Schedule

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1 Summer, 2011 Volume 16, Issue 2 Holy Cross Celebration Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation Psalm 32:3 Calling all New Jersey choir members!! It is that time of the year when the New Jersey choir members of the Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians come together to participate in an historic event, namely THE HOLY CROSS CELEBRATION in Asbury Park. This year the celebration will be on Sunday, September 18, 2011 in the Paramount Theater. You are asked to offer your gifted voices to this distinctly New Jersey event. It is your way to be a steward of your Orthodox faith, to give thanks unto the Lord! Let s have as many choir members as possible come out for this joyous occasion. Hundreds of dedicated and committed choir members participate in the Divine Liturgy in their respective churches throughout the year. This celebration affords all of us an opportunity to come together to sing as one body. Let our voices transform the Paramount Theater into a spiritual space. We need many voices to fill the theater space. Seek out the youth singers, those that participate in Sights and Sounds. If each of us brings along just one more singer Rehearsal Schedule Tuesday, Sept. 6 at St. George in Piscataway, 7:15 PM. Monday, Sept. 12 at St. George in Piscataway, 7:15 PM. Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 AM, at the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park. Lunch after rehearsal at St. George in Asbury Park compliments of Philoptochos. we will make a glorious sound. One more request -- please make every effort to attend as many rehearsals as possible. I look forward to seeing all of you at rehearsals. There are only 3 rehearsals this year. Have a great summer and stay healthy! Any questions? Call or drop a line at kkehayas@rocket mail.com. Kay Kehayas directing the 2010 Holy Cross Celebration Choir 3rd Youth Singers Christmas Workshop + Choir Directors Calling youth singers, age 9-19, to attend the Youth Singers Workshop featuring Christmas Music on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 from 10 to 4, hosted at St. George in Clifton. This is our District s 3rd workshop for Youth. The clinicians, Kathryn Athanasoulas and Hope Demitry, will focus on part singing and vocal techniques. We also encourage choir directors, youth choir directors, priests and youth advisors to attend this workshop. After the workshop, there will be a 60-minute panel discussion for the adults on how to develop a youth choir, a critique of the workshop, input to future workshops, religious retreats, camps and other activities. Please encourage your Youth to join us. They do not have to be in a choir. Our adult choirs need the youth to carry on our choir tradition. Last year, we had 32 wonderful participants. Hopefully this year, there will be even more. See enclosed flyer, registration and permission forms. Share them with youth, priests, choir directors, youth advisors, etc. Choir Directors: Have you responded to Marie Devino s questionnaire about your Youth music activities? It is not too late to her at mdevino@att.com.

2 Page 2 Conference Music Rehearsal Our next EFGOCM conference will be at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Baltimore on October 6-9, 2011, with guest conductor, Nick Kyrus. You should have already received the Federation newsletter, The First Mode, with more information and the application form. It is also posted on our EFGOCM website, Our last rehearsal for the Cardiasmenos Liturgy will be on Monday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 at St. George in Piscataway. Even if you attended the conference in Newport News last year, come to the rehearsal to refresh your memory. Since the conference is closer to our district this year we hope that many of you will join us. The music is beautiful but challenging so we need to prepare ahead of time. If you need to order the music, check with Marie Devino at mdevino@att.com. Greek Folk Singers at Stockton College The Friends of Hellenic Studies at Stockton College hosted a luncheon at the beautiful Seaview Resort in Galloway, NJ on November 7, Our New Jersey District Singers were asked to sing some Greek folk songs. Guest speaker was Mike Emmanuel of Fox News. You may remember that an invitation was sent by to our New Jersey District Members to join this group. Those who committed to the rehearsals and sang had a lot of fun putting the program together. About five years ago, we were asked to form a group to sing at the St. Basil luncheon at the Pines Manor. This past March, we were asked again to sing at the St. Basil luncheon. This group formed our nucleus for this year s request from Stockton College. We never know when and where these requests may come from, so be aware that we may ask for more singers sometime in the future. Quote of the Day Why does the Lord command us to love our enemies and to pray for them? Not for their sake, but for ours! For as long as we bear grudges, as long as we dwell on how someone offended us, we will have no peace. - Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica Left: The Kokoraki Song Below: Greek Folk Song Singers at Seaview

3 Page 3 Vocal Master Class On Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 1-5 PM, our New Jersey District sponsored another Vocal Master Class presented by our exciting Chrissellene Petropoulos. Over 40 people attended and enthusiastically participated. These workshops are offered to our district as a result of the money we raise from our Lenten concerts. As a result, the fees are only $10. This by no way pays for our expenses. We tell you this so you do not think that the lower price means the quality is not better than that price. Other organizations must charge at least eight times as much to break even. So, please take advantage of these workshops that are offered. The people who have sung in these concerts over the years have worked hard so that all of us can reap the benefits. Above: Chrisselene demonstrating breathing Below: Group practicing breathing Dates to Remember Tues., Sept. 6, St. George, Piscataway, 7:15 pm Mon., Sept. 12, St. George, Piscataway, 7:15 pm Sat., Sept. 17, Paramount Theater, Asbury Pk, 10 am Sun., Sept. 18, Liturgy at the Paramount Theater Sept. 26, Cardiasmenos conference rehearsal at St. George, Piscataway at 7:30 pm Oct. 6-9, EFGOCM Annual Conference, Annunciation, Baltimore, MD Oct. 22, Youth Singers Workshop, St. George, Clifton, 10:30 to 4:00 December possible Christmas concert (TBA) Save the Dates for 2012 Lenten Concert Rehearsals Monday, March 12, location TBA Monday, March 19 Monday, March 26 Monday, April 2 Friday, April 9, The Spirit of Lent Concert, TBA Keep Informed. Check out our Federation Website

4 Page 4 The Spirit of Lent Concert in Trenton Our 21st Annual The Spirit of Lent concert was held on April 15, 2011 at St. George, Trenton. Once again the adult choir along with the youth presented a beautiful concert. Thanks to the generosity of our concert supporters we were able to donate $ to IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charity) for the Japanese Tsunami victims. This donation was not advertised since this devastation happened after our flyers went out. Thanks to all of the participants: Kathryn Athanasoulas, director and Hope Demitry, organist. Classified Ads The following churches are looking for Choir Directors and/or organists. If interested call or . St. Demetrios, Union. Phone St. Thomas, Cherry Hill. Contact Maria Flamporis, mflamporis@yahoo.com St. Luke, Broomall, PA needs an organist. Contact Virginia Botsis, vabotsis@gmail.com Spirit of Lent Concert, Trenton, April 15, 2011 What Do Choir Members Do in the Summer? We relax, go on vacation, etc but there are also tons of musical activities to hone your skills, have fun and learn during the summer. Here are a few activities that some of us have attended. Can you add others? The National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians annual meeting at St. Louis, MO July 6, 10 (report will be in The First Mode Workshop on preserving Senior voices at Grace Madison Church American Choral Directors Assoc. Conference July 27, 2011, Princeton Masterworks sing-a-longs of Brahms, Mozart, Vivaldi etc. 57th Annual Choir Festival, July 10th in the Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove, NJ. Over 1,000 glorious voices with inspiring guest conductors. The Southeastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians annual conference July 28 to 31 Spartenburg, South Carolina.

5 Calling all youth, ages 9 19 in the Metropolis of New Jersey and youth choir directors or youth advisors, to participate in a wonderful workshop for young people who love to sing Learn how to develop and produce a healthy sound, sharpen your vocal techniques and learn what conductors are asking of all singers The day will be filled with fun as you vocalize, learn Christmas music, sing and perform a concert of what was accomplished during the day What better way to pass your time than by having a great day of singing!!! Invite your family and friends to the concert (3:30 pm 4:00 pm) We encourage choir directors, youth choir directors, priests and/or youth advisors to attend this workshop and remain for a feed back session to help interested parties with establishing and developing a youth choir for your parish from 4:00 pm 5:00 pm This workshop is sponsored by the Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Musicians - District III Hosted by St. George Greek Orthodox Church 818 Valley Road Clifton, NJ October 22, :30 am 4:00 pm Kathryn Athanasoulas, Clinician 10:30 am 10:55 am Pre-Registration - $25.00 (includes Lunch) Registration at the door - $30.00 (includes Lunch) RSVP by October 10, :00 am 1:00 pm Session 1 1:00 pm 1:30 pm Lunch 1:30 pm 3:00 pm Session 2 3:10 pm 3:25 pm Group Picture 3:30 pm 4:00 pm Concert 4:00 pm 5:00 pm Workshop for priests and adult directors/advisors Workshop will discuss: role you play, how to develop a youth choir, critique of workshop, input to future workshops, religious retreats, camps and other activities. (RSVP if you plan to attend this session. Contact Hope Demitry or EHopeD@verizon.net)

6 Registration Sheet Name Address City State Zip Code Phone Number Age Church/City Voice Part you sing Designated Adult Supervisor (if not parent) Emergency Contact Information Parent/Guardian Name and Cell Phone # Address Parent s Signature Check Shirt Size: Child s Large Adult Sizes Small Medium Large Extra Large Pre-Registration $25.00 Includes materials, lunch and shirt Registration at the door $30.00 Includes materials and lunch Adults attending will be $15.00 Includes lunch RSVP by October 10, 2011 Send this form and permission form with money payable to: EFGOCM c/o Hope Demitry 95 Beechwood Ave. Trenton, NJ Any questions please contact: Kathryn Athanasoulas (908) (kathanasoulas@hotmail.com) or Hope Demitry (609) (EHopeD@verizon.net)

7 YOUTH SINGERS WORKSHOP Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians New Jersey District Metropolis of New Jersey St. George Greek Orthodox Church 818 Valley Road Clifton, NJ PERMISSION FORM ATTENTION PARENTS: THIS FORM MUST BE FILLED OUT SEPARATELY FOR EACH CHILD AND INCLUDED WITH THE REGISTRATION FORM AND PAYMENT IN ORDER FOR YOUR CHILD TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT. I hereby give permission for my son / daughter Age: to attend the YOUTH SINGERS WORKSHOP. I accept all liability for the trip. I will not hold the Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians nor the St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Clifton, NJ responsible for any mishap. I acknowledge that chaperones will be supervising the youth choir members. I give permission to photograph my child during this workshop (Parent Initial permission for photo) In case of an emergency the parent/guardian will be called before taking the child to a doctor or hospital. When neither the parent / guardian can be reached, the following permission form will allow treatment to be secured. Parents/Guardians Names Telephone # Cell # Contacts other than the Parent / Guardian: Relationship: Family Doctor's Name: Doctor's Telephone #: I hereby give permission to transport my child to the closest hospital or medical center for emergency treatment on Saturday, October 22, I hereby give permission to allow hospital personnel and/or a licensed physician to perform emergency treatment conforming with and to the standard of care for the child s medical situation including but not limited to inject or administering medication in conjunction with such emergency. Parent /Guardian Signature Health Insurance Company Policy# Allergies: Parent /Guardian Signature Date July 3, 2011

8 Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians District of New Jersey and Staten Island 195 County Line Road Branchburg, NJ ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Enclosed: Forms for Youth Singers Christmas Workshop Choir Directors of New Jersey Honored On May 16, 2011 at the Metropolis Clergy Laity conference banquet the New Jersey Choir Directors were honored by Metropolitan Evangelos at the Grand Banquet. They were presented with a beautiful plaque and icon of St. John Chrysostom. This is probably the only time so many choir directors appeared together! What a wonderful thing it would be if we would all get together and work together. What a dynamic group we would be. The following choir directors were present: Pauline Choir Notes is published three times a Aridas, St. George, Asbury year by Park; the Kathryn Eastern Athanasoulas, Federation of Holy Trinity, Westfield; Greek Andrew Orthodox Bacalakis, Church St. Musicians, Nicholas, Wyckoff; Nicholas District Chingas, of New St. Jersey George, and Trenton; Staten Island. News, articles and photographs Steve Corodemus, St. Demitrios, Perth Amboy; Marie are invited. Send to: Louis Martin, 195 Devino, Kimisis tis County Theotokos, Line Holmdel; Rd, Branchburg, Diana Grina, NJ St. Anna, Flemington; Lee FAX: Kotsombas, St. Athanasios, Paramus; James Vardakis, LouMartin1@yahoo.com. Sts. Nicholas/ Constantine and Helen; Alex Vlassis, St.Andrew, Randolph; and Constantinos Yiannoudes, Ascension, Fairview. New Jersey Choir Directors Honored at Clergy/Laity (from the left): Alix Vlassis, St. Andrew, Randolph; James Vardakis, Sts. Nicholas, Constantine & Helen Church, Orange; Lee Kotsombas, St. Athanasios, Paramus; Diana Grina, St. Anna, Flemington; Marie Devino, Kimisis Tis Theotokou, Holmdel; Steve Corodemus, St. Demitrios, Perth Amboy; Nicholas Chingas, St. George, Trenton; Andrew Bacalakis, St. Nicholas, Wyckoff; Kathryn Athanasoulas, Holy Trinity, Westfield; Pauline Aridas, St. George, Asbury Park.