February 16, 2013
Wilkes-Barre, PA: "Hymns of Holy Russia in the New World" – A Joint Seminary Choir Concert

For the first time in the history of three of America’s premier Orthodox Christian seminaries, a combined seminary choir will hold a joint concert. The combined choirs from St. Tikhon’s (OCA, South Canaan, PA), St. Vladimir’s (OCA, Yonkers, NY), and Holy Trinity (ROCOR, Jordanville, NY) Seminaries will perform a concert of Russian Orthodox liturgical music, sung primarily in English, entitled "Hymns of Holy Russia in the New World." All three institutions are celebrating anniversaries this year – St. Tikhon’s and St. Vladimir’s their 75th, Holy Trinity its 65th.

As part of its anniversary celebrations, from February 28 to March 3, St. Tikhon’s Seminary will host a rigorous three-day master class for members of the above-mentioned choirs, led by world-renowned Moscow choirmaster Vladimir Gorbik, one of Russia’s most dynamic and talented rising stars in the field of Russian church singing, who will be making his American concert debut at this landmark performance.

The concert will take place on Sunday, March 3, at 6:30 PM in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral at 35 S. Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA. The cathedral is a favorite performance space for many professional ensembles in the Pennsylvania and New York regions, and is home to the well-loved Pennsylvania public radio program, "Music from St. Stephen’s." The concert will be recorded and broadcast on this program. General admission is $12, and advance tickets may be obtained from St. Tikhon’s Bookstore at (888) 454-6678 or from www.stspress.com. Please inquire about student and group discounts. Seating is limited and tickets are on sale now, so book your tickets early!

Vladimir Gorbik (b. 1970) began his musical studies in Yekaterinburg, Russia, and continued them at the Moscow State Conservatory, completing a specialization in choral conducting in 1998 and in orchestral conducting in 2000. Since 1996, he has served as the choir director at the Moscow Representation Church (Metochion) of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, and since 1998 has been the Artistic Director and Conductor of the professional men’s chorus formed at the Metochion. With this choir, he has made more than a dozen outstanding recordings of both liturgical services and concert programs. The choir has on many occasions sung at Patriarchal services in the Dormition Cathedral in the Kremlin, and they accompanied Patriarch Alexey II on his trip to the Holy Land in 2000. The repertoire of the Metochion’s Men’s Chorus cultivates the finest repertoire and interpretive traditions of the Moscow School and the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. For his outstanding achievements and service, he has received a Patriarchal Gramota and the medal of the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 2nd Class.

Click here for a video of Maestro Gorbik and his outstanding choir.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese