Cantor Institute

The Metropolitan Cantor Institute Program

The Metropolitan Cantor Institute of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, initiated in 1998, has a threefold purpose:

The 2008-2009 MCI program (Session 3) concentrates on chanting and understanding the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Divine Liturgies of our Holy Fathers John Chrysostom and Basil the Great, utilizing the recently published Divine Liturgy Book of the Byzantine Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh. Class work will also include chanting the Epistle and practical use of cantorial resources.

Metropolitan Cantor Institute classes are held on the grounds of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (driving directions).

Program Requirements

Each student beginning the Metropolitan Cantor Institute Cantor Program is required to undergo a placement audition, during which the student will be asked to do the following:

  1. Sing a Troparion, Glory/Now, and Kontakion (student’s choice)
  2. Sing a brief Epistle (student’s choice)
  3. Sing a para-liturgical hymn (student’s choice)
  4. Sight-read/sing a samohlasen tone written out with music notation (provided on-site)
  5. Sing responses to a dialogue segment of the Divine Liturgy (provided on-site)
This audition provides the opportunity to assess the aspiring cantor’s strengths and weaknesses, and also helps to determine level of expertise and potential needs in the areas of voice-building and music theory. Auditions may be scheduled by appointment in September and October 2008, prior to the start of Session 3 classes on October 18. To schedule an audition, please call Metropolitan Cantor Institute Program Coordinator Darlene Fejka at 412-231-4000, ext. 20 after September 1.  If travel to Pittsburgh is not feasible (excessive travel distance, personal hardship, etc.), alternate audition arrangements may be possible.

Certification

PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
The MCI, in cooperation with the Byzantine Catholic Seminary, offers participants two options: earning a Certificate in Church Music (10 credits) or a Diploma in Church Music (19 credits).

CERTIFICATE: Those wishing to earn a Certificate in Church Music are required to obtain 10 credits. Successfully completing only the Saturday sessions at the Seminary over the five-year cycle will qualify a participant for these credits. Two credit hours will be granted for each year of the five-year program completed. (Must attend and complete all five sessions).

DIPLOMA: Those electing to earn a Diploma in Church Music are required to complete 19 total credits, attainable by attending all sessions of the Saturday programs for five years (10 credits) and by taking additional classes at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary (total of 9 credits) in the areas of Liturgy, Mysteries (Sacraments), Scripture, Spirituality and Chant.  Course work can be accomplished at the Seminary throughout the year and does not have to be concurrent with MCI sessions. MCI participants may enroll for courses at the Seminary at a reduced tuition rate.

SEMINARY COURSES
Seminary courses which qualify for credits towards the MCI Diploma in Church Music are available during the Seminary’s Fall 2008 semester, Sept. 2 - Dec. 17. Early registration deadline is Aug. 28, 2008. Late registrations will be accepted until Sept. 15. For more information, or to register, contact the Seminary at 412-321-8383 or e-mail byzcathsem@verizon.net. For course listing and a description of new Fall 2008 classes, visit www.byzcathsem.org.

Program Description

The program is designed to be completed in five Saturday sessions in a cycle of five years of instruction; each session (which usually consists of five Saturdays of classroom instruction) covers an area in which parish cantors need competence:

SESSION 1: The Hours of Praise: Vespers and Matins;  use of the eight samohlasen tones (2006-2007 year)
SESSION 2: The Resurrection; Prokeimena/Alleluia Tones (2007-2008 year)
SESSION 3: The Divine Liturgy (2008-2009 year)
SESSION 4: Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts, Great Week and Pascha (2009-2010 year)
SESSION 5: The Holy Mysteries: Initiation; Crowning; Funerals (2010-2011 year)

The education of the cantor candidates at the Metropolitan Cantor Institute is built out of four components:

  1. Liturgy/scripture/spirituality
  2. Music:  Voice-building & theory
  3. Leadership/Interpersonal Skills
  4. Practical applications of plain-chant liturgical singing (prostopinije) repertory

The Saturday Cantor Institute sessions at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary begin at 8:00 a.m. with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, and conclude at 4:00 p.m. with the celebration of Great Vespers for Sunday. Lunch is provided.

In addition to classroom instruction, a "Cantors' Day of Prayer and Reflection," an annual event open to all cantors and cantors' assistants, is held on Bright Saturday at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Munhall, Pa. The day begins at 9:00 a.m. with Paschal Matins, followed by a morning reflection, celebration of Divine Liturgy, lunch, an afternoon reflection, and concludes with Vespers of Thomas Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

Dates for Session 3 (2008-2009 year):

Deadline for Session 3 application is October 1, 2008. Download the current Cantor Institute brochure and registration form.

Please note:  Due to scheduling conflicts, Saturday, September 20 - the planned start of the MCI Saturday Program for 2008-09 - has been deleted from the schedule. Session 3 classes will begin on Saturday, October 18.  Please see the new PDF brochure to view the revised schedule and print a registration form to mail in and reserve your spot in Session 3, which focuses on the Divine Liturgy.

Thanks to all for continued interest in and support of the Metropolitan Cantor Institute Saturday Program. Both staff and faculty look forward to resuming classes in October.

For more information

Contact MCI Program Coordinator Darlene Fejka at 412-231-4000, ext. 20 or e-mail vocations@archeparchy.org