On Saturday, July 25, the Synodal Metropolitan Laurus Liturgical Choir School concluded its 35th academic year with a thanksgiving moleben in St. Seraphim Cathedral of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY. The service was led by convent cleric Priest Artem Siss, attended by His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York. The combined choir of students and teachers, conducted by Peter A. Fekula, sang, and the final "We Praise Thee, O God" was sung antiphonally (the right choir was led by the School’s choral conducting instructor Anastasia Kappanadze).
This year, four students graduated from the school: Brendan Allatta, Tatyana Williams, Alexander Kovell, and Anton Moroz received choir director/psalmist certificates.
Over the course of two weeks, a group of students from the USA, Canada, the UK, and Poland went through an intensive training program that included classes in music theory, solfège, Church Slavonic, the history of Russian church music, the Typicon, clerical practice, vocal training, and conducting, along with two daily choir rehearsals. Second- and third-year students prepared, sang, and led evening services at St Seraphim Cathedral, the small Dormition Chapel at the monastery, and Holy Virgin Protection Church in nearby Nyack, NY.
Among the significant events of this year were the hierarchal Divine Liturgy on the feast day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, celebrated by His Eminence, along with His Grace Theodosius, Bishop of Manhattan; the annual informal concert in memory of Irina Mozyleva, who led the vocal department of the school for many years; and a special report by the dean of the Holy Trinity Seminary, Dr. Nicolas Schidlovsky. These events were marked by a particular solemnity, connected with the 35th anniversary of the School’s founding by Archpriest Andre Papkov.
This year, as in previous years, the school received generous support from the Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
Other sponsors included the Russian Nobility Assembly, the Russian Ball in Washington, and private individuals.
