In Canada, a discussion of vanishing Jewish heritage in Ukraine ...

26
THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2010
No. 18
A Ukrainian Summer: where to go, what to do...
Summer School of Sacred Music geared to cantors, choir directors
by Natalia Syrotynska
OTTAWA – The annual Summer
School of Sacred Music will again take
place this year at the Studite Monastery
in Univ (near Lviv), Ukraine. The threeweek
program, sponsored by the
Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) and
the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky
Institute of Eastern Christian Studies
(MASI), will run from August 2 to 23.
The school received the blessing of the
Ukrainian Catholic Bishops of Ukraine
during a meeting of their local Synod in
Kyiv in December 2008.
Last year’s school brought together
students from eastern and western
Ukraine and Belarus, but this year the
organizers also hope to attract students
from North America.
There is no place in the Western world
where someone interested in becoming a
cantor or choir director for the Ukrainian
Churches can go to gain these skills in an
accredited program. And yet, the need for
such liturgical ministers is enormous, as
many parishes have to settle for cantors
with no voice training or other basic skills.
Every day of the three-week program
includes a complete cycle of liturgical
services followed by formal instruction in
solfeggio (music sight reading), tones
(hlasy), ordo (ustav), conducting and
voice. Liturgical theology and spirituality
round out the program.
The day begins at 7:30 a.m. with matins
followed by the divine liturgy. Vespers
conclude the day. “This practical aspect is
crucial,” explained the Rev. Peter
Galadza, the program’s director. “There is
no point in having classes if the students
don’t get a chance to use these chants
during actual services.”
After each service students are individually
evaluated by the various instructors.
Among these are some of Lviv’s finest
talents. Voice is taught by Maestro Oleh
Tsyhylyk, who gained fame when he conducted
the 600-voice choir during Pope
John-Paul II’s visit to Ukraine in 2001.
Nadia Povoroznyk, the celebrated conductor
of the St. George Cathedral Choir
in Lviv, provides instruction in choral
practice. Andrii Shrabiuk and Maksym
Tymo, who have taught chant at the Lviv
Seminary for years, teach the tones and
other chants.
Sister Solomia Teslia, director of the
outstanding octet Theophoros, teaches
sight reading. Prof. Yuri Yasinovskii, the
world-renowned specialist on the
Irmologion, teaches the history of church
music. The Rev. Galadza provides
instruction in theology and the ordo.
This year, there will be two levels of
instruction for all of the subjects. “Even
someone from North America whose
Ukrainian is very poor should nonetheless
sign up. Immersion is among the best
ways to learn. The beginners’ class will
enable students from North America who
aren’t fluent in Ukrainian to quickly
advance,” said Father Galadza. “And, of
course, there are talented cantors and
choir directors in North American who
want to improve their skills; the secondlevel
program will be great for them.”
When asked about the high cost of flying
to Ukraine for such instruction, Father
Galadza replied: “Think of it: the tuition
Sisters explain a liturgical service to participants of the Summer School of Sacred
Music in Univ, Ukraine.
and room and board are so inexpensive –
only $500 for three whole weeks – that it
makes up for the price of the airline ticket.
This really is a very affordable program.”
The Holy Dormition Studite Monastery
in Univ, where the program takes place,
is renowned for its beauty and tranquility.
It is a much sought after venue for retreats
and conferences owing to the profound
spiritual aura that surrounds it. It is also
very historic, dating to the 14th century.
Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky and his
brother, Clement, have a special relationship
to it, and many Jews were sheltered
at the monastery during World War II.
For more information on the program,
readers may contact the Rev. Galadza of
the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky
Institute of Eastern Christian Studies at
pgaladza@ustpaul.ca or call 613-236-1393,
ext. 2419.