With the blessing of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Byzantine Music School of Australia convened its first National Seminar today. Archbishop Makarios delivered the opening address at the National Seminar, welcoming the teachers, students and friends of the Byzantine Music School from across Australia.
The Archbishop underscored the significance of the sacred music of Byzantium, describing it as “a divinely revealed expression of doxology, of worship directed to the Creator God” and emphasizing how it is “both God-pleasing and integral to the holy Orthodox Church’s divine services, within which we express our faith, love, and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, ‘the resurrection and the life’ (John 11:25) of all Christians, and even more broadly the entire world.”
The National Seminar featured three keynote speakers. The first keynote speaker, Dr Dimitri Koubaroulis, explored the history of Byzantine music notation, tracing its evolution and development throughout the centuries.
The second keynote speaker, George Papoutsakis, examined the vocal techniques and expressions that underpin the sacred art of Byzantine music, offering wonderful insights and practical advice on vocal wellbeing. The third keynote speaker, Nick Biris, delivered a thought-provoking presentation on the art of ‘isokratema’ (holding ‘ison’), probing its complexities and significance.
Each presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session, which was moderated by Dr Andrew Mellas who was the MC of the National Seminar.
The National Principal of the Byzantine Music School of Australia, Vaios Anastassopoulos, closed the event by thanking all involved, highlighting the excellent work of all the teachers and students in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney, as well as the online cohort.
Anastassopoulos especially thanked Basilios Psilacos, who is a Lecturer at St Andrew’s Theological College and who, in close collaboration with the other teachers, has been pivotal in shaping the pedagogy of the Byzantine Music School of Australia.
The District of Northcote in Victoria concluded the seminar by conducting the Vesper service presided by Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta. The chanting for the service was conducted by the teachers and the students of the Byzantine Music School.