For over 1000 years, Ukraine has cultivated a unique Christian tradition of choral singing. Blending local folk motifs with the ancient chant of Byzantium, Ukrainian sacred music has taken on a life of its own. That tradition inspired some of the best composers in the world — Berezovsky, Bortniansky, Vedel — to create new music to aid in the prayer and enjoyment of all people.
The Kobzarska Sich Sacred Music Workshop is your opportunity to sing some of those compositions.
This four-day course provides instruction in Ukrainian choral singing to people ages 14 and over. This intensive program will teach participants to sing their part in a selection of composed liturgical pieces which they may not be able to master with their home parish choir. There will also be opportunities to work on singing technique and experiment with different roles in a church choir. Participants will be able to network with people who share their love of sacred music, and will participate in short seminars about Ukrainian theology and spirituality.
Participants will also have the ability to experience the rustic beauty of All Saints Camp, the home of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s American camping ministry since 1978. A pool, volleyball court, and prayer trails along the wide Allegheny River are at your disposal. Rehearsals and seminars will take place inside of the wooden St. Thomas Chapel, adorned with icons by renowned painter Michael Kapeluck.
The workshop ends with a Divine Liturgy at the on Sunday, August 4, 2024, when participants will be able to share the music they learned over the course of the workshop.
You do not need to be Ukrainian or Orthodox to attend this program, and it is open to all skill levels, though a previous background in choral singing is always a plus.
Melita Mudri-Zubacz
2024 Sacred Music Director
Melita Mudri-Zubacz holds both a bachelor and masters degree in theology (St. Paul University, Ottawa) as well as Bachelor and Masters degrees in music with a concentration in choral conducting (University of Manitoba, Winnipeg). Her thesis in theology explored historical evaluation of congregational singing in the Eastern Christian liturgical traditions. Her graduate work at University of Manitoba combined choral conducting with a historico-cultural Ukrainian study. Mudri-Zubacz has always been active in her work with music and liturgical studies, working extensively with community and church choirs, as well as publishing studies related to the Eastern Christian church music. At Fresno Pacific University she directs Crosswind, a contemporary Christian ensemble, and teaches Music Appreciation.
Where do participants sleep?
Participants stay in either rustic cabins or in an onsite dormitory building.
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Cabins: Each cabin is furnished with four bunk beds located in a main room that can sleep up to eight people. For cabins with participants under the age of 18, a counselor sleeps in a small side room. All the cabins have electricity and campers are welcome to bring fans to fend off the summer heat. Outdoor washhouses with flushing toilets and hot showers are a few short steps away from the cabins.
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Dormitories: The dormitory is on the ground floor of the Millennium Cultural Center at All Saints Camp. Each room is air conditioned and furnished with four bunk beds. An indoor shared bathroom is at the end of the hallway. These rooms are all handicap accessible.
In both the cabins and dormitories bed linens are not provided, so be sure you bring a sleeping bag, sheets, and pillow.
Participants of the Sacred Music Workshop are also welcome to stay at one of the many hotels in Emlenton, Foxburg, or Clarion, Pennsylvania at their own cost.
What do participants eat?
The All Saints Camp has a dining hall where an excellent cooking staff serves 3 meals a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The kitchen staff also leaves out fresh fruit for campers to snack on throughout the day. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated, but be sure you let us know in advance on you application of any food needs or allergies so that the cook can prepare. Participants are welcome to bring personal snacks to keep in their rooms.
The Ukrainian Sacred Music Workshop is a program of:
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Усі права застережені Кобзарською Січчю.