Summer Music Training Announced for Orthodox Choir Leaders

Photo: Peter Jermihov / Facebook

SPRINGFIELD, VA — The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Department of Liturgical Music and Translations has announced that registration is now open for summer private conducting lessons for intermediate and advanced choir directors, to be taught by Dr. Peter Jermihov. The program offers individualized instruction designed to strengthen liturgical conducting technique and deepen practical skills for parish music leadership.

Applicants must complete a registration form and schedule an interview prior to enrollment by sending an email to Dr. Jermihov at jermihovpeter@gmail.com. The course is structured as an eight-week instructional block, with additional optional four-week extensions. Organizers state that the program is intended to provide focused mentorship for those serving in parish choirs, particularly in Orthodox liturgical settings.

Student testimonials highlight the hands-on nature of the instruction, with participants noting that Jermihov identifies technical habits needing correction while offering expanded gesture vocabulary and clearer communication strategies for choir direction. 

Jermihov, a longtime church musician, has served in parishes across multiple jurisdictions including the OCA, ROCOR, the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and studied orchestral conducting at the St. Petersburg Conservatory under Ilya Musin. 

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Diocese of the West opened registration for the 2026 Music Practicum.

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