Metropolitan Methodios Meets with Church Musicians
On Saturday, March 5th 2011, Church Musicians from throughout the Metropolis of Boston gathered at the Metropolis Center in Brookline, MA for their Annual Church Music Institute. Guest clinicians included the Rev. Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas, Professor Emeritus, Holy Cross School of Theology; Penelope Bitzas, Associate Professor of Music at Boston University and Gregory Condakes, Choir Director of St Demetrios Church in Weston, who spoke on topics of great interest to all church musicians. The new Metropolis Youth Choir curriculum was presented and were announcements made regarding the 2011 annual Conference site, music and guest conductor.
His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios opened the gathering with a prayer and expressed his appreciation to the choir members for their dedicated service. His Eminence stressed the need to attract more members to the “Ministry of the Choir” and for more emphasis to be placed on “Worship.” He also expressed his desire to see choirs participating in more services besides the Divine Liturgy and looks to the Youth Choirs as a way of keeping our young people in the church and as a means to strengthen the choirs.
Following Metropolitan Methodios’ remarks, Heidi Mason, President of the Metropolis of Boston Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, presented His Eminence with a check for the Retreat House at the Saint Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH. It represented the proceeds of the Christmas Concert, held on December 12, 2010. The Church Music Institute was co-sponsored by the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians.
