Commission on Liturgical Music Relaunches Newsletter for Church Musicians

SYOSSET, N.Y. — The Commission on Liturgical Music of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey has revived The Tuning Fork, a newsletter intended to support Orthodox church singers, choir directors, and others engaged in the ministry of liturgical music.

The publication, which returns after an absence of nearly two decades, is designed to provide practical instruction, encouragement, and educational resources for parish choirs of varying sizes and levels of experience. According to the commission, the newsletter is aimed particularly at parish musicians who serve primarily out of devotion to the Church rather than through formal professional training.

The inaugural issue includes an article by Matushka Doreen Bartholomew examining ways to strengthen parish choir life through preparation, commitment, and cooperation among clergy, choir directors, and singers. Additional features include vocal instruction, explanations of commonly used liturgical and musical terminology, responses to frequently asked questions from church singers, and recommendations for further study and development.

The Commission on Liturgical Music plans to publish The Tuning Fork twice annually and has invited feedback, suggestions, and future contributions from readers both within the Diocese of New York and New Jersey and throughout the wider Orthodox community.

The June 2026 issue of the The Tuning Fork can be found here.

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