Inaugural Northwest Orthodox Choir Directors Conference Held in Spokane

SPOKANE, WA — According to a release from the Northwest Orthodox Choir Directors Conference, their inaugural conference brought together 25 choir directors from across Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Canada from August 27–29 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Spokane. Participants represented the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), Serbian, Antiochian, and Greek Orthodox parishes.

The conference featured Sbdn. Stephen Ritchey, head director at St. Symeon Orthodox Church in Birmingham, AL, as its guest presenter. Sessions addressed a range of topics, including choir directing, musicality, chanting, and leadership. Participants included directors with little experience as well as those who have served in their ministries for decades.

“The goal of this conference was to support regional directors in learning and growing in their musical leadership abilities,” said conference co-chair Elizabeth Jerrell. She added that attendees responded overwhelmingly positively and left encouraged and equipped to apply what they had learned in their home parishes.

The gathering concluded Saturday morning with a pan-Orthodox Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church. Conference participants formed the choir for the service under the direction of Sbdn. Ritchey, putting their musical training into practice.

The conference emphasized the role of a beautiful and well-prepared choir in facilitating and elevating prayer during the Divine Services, as well as the importance of pursuing higher standards of musicality. The event was sponsored by St. Luke Orthodox Church in Spokane with the blessing of Bp. Vasily of San Francisco and the West.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Sacred Music Institute drew hundreds to Antiochian Village.