May 12, 2016
Glen Cove, NY: Youth Choir of Prince Vladimir Association sings Evening Service in Holy Intercession Church, performs Paschal Concert

On Bright Friday, May 6, the youth choir of Prince Vladimir Association sang Paschal Vespers and Matins in Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY, and then performed a Paschal concert in the parish hall.

The evening service was led by Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, co-served by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Archpriests Serge Lukianov (secretary of the Eastern American Diocese) and Andrei Sommer (senior priest of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City), Hieromonk Photius (Oulanov; parish cleric), Protodeacons Paul Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur (clerics of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), and Deacon Vladimir Barros (parish cleric).

Upon completion of the service, the clergy, faithful, and concert guests from nearby states proceeded to the parish hall where, under the direction of conductor Adrian Fekula, the young singers performed Paschal hymns by Russian and European composers.

Greeting the young singers and guests, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his joy at seeing skilled choristers singing in Russian Orthodox churches today, especially at such a professional level.

This is the third such festal concert performed by the youth choir. The first took place last year, also during Paschaltide, at St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ. Roughly 20 singers take part in each concert. The composition of the choir changes from one concert to the next, with new members joining the ranks. This year, joining the choir for the first time were young singers from Albany, NY: Alexandra Wolkow, Patrick Soloviev, David Taylor, and Natalia Petrochko, as well as Katherine Lukianov from New Jersey.

"When choosing the compositions for our repertoire, we tried to reflect not only the Russian musical tradition, but also the Western," explains Adrian Fekula. "In addition to well-known and loved works by Russian composers, we sang music by English and French composers, and hymns to the words of the Holy Hierarch Ambrose of Milan and of the Gospel text, entitled, ‘If thou lovest.’"

On May 16, twelve singers of the youth choir of Prince Vladimir Association, along with its director, Fr. Andrei Sommer, will embark on a trip to Ukraine. Bishop Nicholas will lead the group. The young choristers will perform two concerts, one of which, in Kiev, will be attended by Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev & All Ukraine; they will visit an orphanage in Bancheny, Bukovina, and will pass along collected donations for the children. The choir will also sing at several divine services alongside other choirs at the Pochaev Lavra on the feast of Venerable Job of Pochaev, as well as at the later Liturgy on the patronal feast day of one of the local convents. For many of the young singers, this will be their first time in Ukraine.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese