ST. BASIL OF OSTROG CHURCH CHOIR
"I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." (Ps. 104:33)
The St. Basil of Ostrog Serbian Orthodox Church Choir was founded in the summer of 1997 as an integral part of the newly established St. Basil parish. Starting with a handful of singers, the Choir has grown to over 20 singers who respond at Divine Liturgies and at other regular services during the Church year in addition to weddings, christenings, memorial services and funerals.
Church singing is a ministry which is challenging because it requires both a spiritual effort – true humility and a commitment to the Orthodox Faith and a technical effort – music theory and technique. The choir strives to express a hymn as beautifully as possible from a musical standpoint but more importantly, it strives to express its meaning. St. Theophan the Recluse, a great 19th century monastic said “Church music is meant to increase the grace of God in each one of us. That grace has been put there through the sacraments and it is through music that the “spark of grace” is made to burn more brightly.” Working with the parish priest, the choir tries to participate in services to the fullest by understanding and preparing for the services as opposed to responding in a rote performance manner.
The Choir’s repertoire is diverse and includes the magnificent sacred expression of Mokranjac, Rachmaninov and Lvov as well as simpler music such as plain Russian chant and Serbian narodno. Through regular rehearsals during the fall and spring, the choir works to expand their repertoire of liturgical music which is sung in English, Church Slavonic, and Serbian. If you would like to join the choir or are seeking information about the Choir, please come to Liturgy on Sunday, call the Church Office (847- 247-0077) or send an e-mail to:
choir@stbasilchurch.org
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