September 20, 2051
Moscow: American Choristers take part in Maestro Vladimir Gorbik’s Master Class

From September 2-6, the Patriarch Tikhon Russian-American Music (PaTRAM) Institute held its first Master Class in Moscow, led by one of Russia’s foremost musical instructors – Vladimir Gorbik, lead choir director of the Moscow Metochion (Podvorye) of Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, professor of Conducting at the Moscow Conservatory, and lead conductor of the Patriarch Tikhon Choir (USA).

Vladimir Gorbik’s choir is one of Russia’s most renowned church choirs, well known in Europe and North America. Both the choir and Maestro Gorbik have been multiple award-winners at international contests and festivals, and have received a gramota from Patriarch Alexey II of Moscow & All Russia, as well as the Order of Ven. Sergius of Radonezh, 2nd Class.

The Master Class was held in one of Russia’s most renowned spiritual and cultural centers – the Metochion of Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. Taking part were 35 singers and conductors from parishes in the U.S., most of whom are descended from Russian émigrés and are Orthodox faithful from New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ottawa, representing the Russian Church Abroad and the Orthodox Church in America. It is worth nothing that the participants from America are not professional singers, but sing in church choirs in their free time away from work.

The Master Class, which also saw participation by the Male Choir of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra Metochion, included Orthodox spiritual music by composers P. Chesnokov, A. Kastalsky, V. Kalinnikov, Archimandrite Matthew (Mormyl), and Obikhod hymns from Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.

In order to prepare for singing the All-Night Vigil and Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Master Class participants – over 50 people – rehearsed daily for 8-9 hours, and on September 6, the Russian-American Orthodox choir sang the All-Night Vigil in the Moscow Metochion of Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.

The Master Class’ organizers are firm in their belief in the necessity of strengthening friendly relations between the American and Russian peoples in this difficult time, which is why the event’s main goal was joint singing of the divine services. The primary mission of the North American-based Patriarch Tikhon Russian-American Music Institute is to introduce and establish Russian Orthodox singing on the North American continent by training sings and conductors of parish choirs.

Over the last three years, Vladimir Gorbik has led seven Master Classes in the U.S. and Canada. Similar Master Classes on church singing for Orthodox Americans – conductors and singers in self-taught choirs – will now be held annually.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese