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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.
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