Continuing its work of offering high-quality Orthodox Church choir Master Classes and conferences in both America and Russia, the Patriarch Tikhon Russian American Music Institute (PaTRAM) is offering in 2016 three more exciting opportunities to delve into the depths of the spirituality of Orthodox Church music and to visit holy sites of America and Russia.

The PaTRAM Institute has as its aim "to promote prayerful and professionally executed Russian Orthodox church singing in North America (in both English and Church Slavonic)" through training a new generation of master conductors, growing the ranks of professionally trained singers in church choirs, and significantly increasing the musical collaboration among members of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and the faculty of the Moscow Representation Church of the Holy Trinity–Saint Sergius Lavra.

Beautiful sounds

In addition to its regular on-going curriculum, PaTRAM is sponsoring a Young Singers' Conference at St. Tikhon's Monastery and Seminary in PA, and a second at Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary in NY, as well as its second annual summer Master Class in Moscow, Russia.

St.Tikhon’s Monastery located in Waymart, PA and Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY have graciously opened their doors for participants in The Young Singers’ Conferences to attend one or both 3-day weekends of educational courses. These conferences allow young singers (15-40 y.o.) to strengthen their abilities and sing the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy in a monastery setting.

Every year since its founding in 1905, St. Tikhon's Monastery, the oldest Orthodox monastery in America, has hosted thousands of faithful as its Memorial Day weekend pilgrimage. This year, in addition to the monastery services and seminary graduation, PaTRAM will hold its Memorial Day Conference on Saturday May 28th – Monday May 30th, 2016 under the direction of Benedict Sheehan, Peter Jermihov, Irina Raizanova and Katya Lukianov. For more information and to register, click here.

Likewise, Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary annually hosts a pilgrimage over Labor Day weekend, and this year in addition to the usual services and events, PaTRAM will offer its second Young Singers' Conference Saturday September 3rd – Monday September 5th, 2016 under the direction of Nicholar Kotar, Peter Jermihov, Irina Raizanova and Katya Lukianov. For more information and to register, click here.

The Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra Podvorie Moscow is welcoming the second annualMaster Class to take place Friday July 7th – Wednesday July 14th, 2016. The class offers the opportunity for both male and female singers to join the renowned Podvorie choir in the singing of the Vigil and Divine Liturgy of Saints Peter & Paul. As guests of the Podvorie, participants are given the opportunity to work with Maestro Vladimir Gorbik in an intensive workshop in Slavonic sacred choral music. Participants will enjoy daily intensive workshop sessions and available guided excursions to Moscow attractions and the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. For more information and to register, click here.