|
SPRING 2013 CONCERT – THE SPIRIT OF LENT
A Choral Offering by the
Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians – NJ District 3
Singing Ancient and Modern Works in
English and Greek
Kathryn Athanasoulas, Director
E. Hope Demitry, Organist
~~~
Friday, April 26, 2013, 8:00 p.m.
Donation $10.00, under 12 free
Refreshments following program
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the
Metropolis of NJ Philoptochos
Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Fund
Our church is looking forward to hosting a beautiful and spiritually uplifting musical event this spring. “The Spirit of Lent” has been offered annually in churches throughout New Jersey for the past 23 years by members of the combined choirs of the Greek Orthodox churches of NJ.
You will hear the voices of adults, children, and young adult singers in a variety of musical arrangements. Some of the composers date back many centuries, while others are posting today on Facebook! Music is in both Greek and English, and translations are given in the program notes.
The group sings many of the most poignant Lenten hymns, which express both the emotion and the religious understanding of our journey toward Pascha. Since many are chanted only during weekday services, it’s not uncommon for parishioners to miss them from year to year.
But this year, the hymns are coming to you, so please take this opportunity to come and hear them! Bring your family and friends, too. It is a special blessing to be able to hear this music in our newly built spiritual home. Following the concert, which lasts about an hour, we will have a reception with light refreshments to enjoy fellowship together.
Thanks to Miriam Kotsonis for this writeup!
History of our Choir
It was during the tenure of Reverend Constantinides as Priest of our parish, from 1931 through 1933, that composer Nicholas Roubanis came from New York to direct the Choir. He brought with him liturgical music of his own composition, much of which continues to be sung by our Choir today. Mary Panagiatopoulos (Panas) was the Church Organist. Services were held in the basement of the Asbury Park Public Library.
Throughout the years at the Library, the Intertaken Hotel, the church complex on Sewall and Grand in Asbury Park and our new home in Ocean Township, our choir has been served by many dedicated and talented teams of directors and organists including Euripides Hatzidemetriou and Mary P. Panas, Presvytera Vlahopoulos and Arthra Vlahopoulos, Nicholas Roubanis (2nd term) and Frances M. Pascal. Mr. Antonopoulos and Georgia Karagias, Marion Constas Koempel and Helen Coutros. Nora Kavalos and Catherine Choras, Irene Tsakiris and Ludwig Proskauer, Tom Hinz as director and organist and co-directors Theodore G. Zavales and Pauline Aridas, with Ingrid Weigel as organist.
Today, the choir is served through the direction of Alex Karpodinis and Pauline Aridas with Julia Muench as organist.
The Choir numbers approximately 24, several of whom have been singing in Greek churches for more than 50 years. In addition to serving St. George, some of our choir members have been active participants in the annual Holy Cross Celebrations in Asbury Park/Ocean Grove, the Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Choirs, numerous church consecrations, and Patriarchal visits. They proudly represent St. George, traveling to other churches throughout the Diocese in order to expand their knowledge of church music, and bring back the works of new composers to add to the Choir's liturgical repertoire.