SingCon Mission Statement

The goal of SingCon is to advance the state and quality of church music in the Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Church (UGCC) in the English-speaking world, gathering cantors, choir directors, singers, clergy, and others interested in church singing to meet one another, network, share resources, discuss various issues, and—most importantly—to pray together, glorifying God. SingCon sees the traditional Byzantine liturgy and chant of the UGCC as essential sources of liturgical and spiritual renewal for Christians in the twenty-first century. Following the principles outlined by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky in his pastoral letter on church singing from 1941, SingCon seeks to successfully integrate congregational and choral singing, raising both to the highest standard.

A Short History of SingCon

The Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Church (UGCC) Singing Conference, popularly referred to as “SingCon,” began as a response to the UGCC’s needs in North America: to bring people together, to glorify God through the traditional liturgical worship of our Church, to do so beautifully and in English, to share veteran cantors’ expertise and resources, and to enliven our worship today. SingCon grew out of hope for our Church’s renewal into the future.

The inaugural, first annual SingCon drew over 100 people interested in church singing at Pokrova Church and St Josaphat Cathedral in Parma, Ohio (5–7 October 2018). The gathering was organized with the blessing of the UGCC’s Patriarchal Liturgical Commission, and hosted by His Grace Bishop Bohdan (Danylo) of Parma. The members of the first organizing committee included Larisa Galadza-Cronin, Reader Ilya Galadza, Deacon Daniel Galadza, Roman Hurko, Subdeacon Cyril Kennedy, Father Joseph Matlak, and Melita Mudri-Zubacz; Damein Zakordonski and Namisha Hlus-Greening subsequently joined this committee. Cantors and choir directors from all over had an opportunity to meet one another, network, share resources, discuss various issues, and—most importantly—pray together. Participants came from every corner of Canada and the United States—even from Great Britain and Germany—and from almost every Eparchy of the UGCC in North America. Participants ranged in age from teenagers to seniors, with a high level of youth participation.

The weekend schedule included daily Vespers, Matins, Parastas, a Town Hall discussion, hierarchical Vigil on Saturday evening and hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, as well as workshops, rehearsals, keynote lectures, and fellowship. Audio and video recordings of the services and talks were prepared by Julian Hayda. Deacon Daniel Galadza delivered an introductory lecture on Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky’s pastoral letter on Church singing. The schedule of services and activities became part of SingCon’s routine in subsequent years, which continued with the enthusiasm, zeal, and large attendance of the first gathering.

The second SingCon gathered at St Basil’s Seminary in Stamford, Connecticut (26–29 September 2019) to learn about the origins of UGCC church singing in America. Hosted by His Grace Bishop Paul (Chomnycky) of Stamford and Father Bohdan Tymchyshyn, rector of St Basil’s Seminary, participants had a chance to visit the Stamford Seminary Museum and Library, sing under the direction of composer Roman Hurko, and hear a keynote lecture by cantor Joseph Roll about the history of liturgical music at the Stamford Seminary over the course of almost four whole days.

The SingCon scheduled for October 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hosted by His Eminence Metropolitan Borys (Gudziak) and the Philadelphia Archeparchy, had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, various initiatives were organized online, such as the weekly “Name That Tone” webinar, and smaller in-person gatherings at St Elias Church in Brampton, Ontario.

In 2023, in-person gatherings were able to resume with the third annual SingCon in Welland, Ontario (28 September–1 October 2023), hosted by St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church and Father Jaroslaw Lazoryk. This was the first SingCon held without the presence of Father Roman Galadza (1943–2023), of blessed memory. Professor Brian Butcher gave a stimulating keynote lecture addressing the intersection of psychology and the sociology of singing within our own experience of worship and understanding of beauty.

The fourth SingCon, held at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Calgary, Alberta (19–22 September 2024) and hosted by Father Roman Planchak, coincided with the death of Bishop Basil (Losten), a supporter of SingCon who attended the second gathering. Presvytera Melita Mudri-Zubacz’s keynote lecture, “Aural Icons: Unlocking the Transformative Power of Liturgical Music,” discussed the importance of congregational participation in church singing. In preparation for the 2024 gathering, the SingCon OrgCom commissioned Oleksiy Chekal to design the new logo that now adorns the website, social media, and booklets, succeeding the previous logos and designs by Anastasia Galadza and Ivanka Galadza.

The Philadelphia Archeparchy sponsored the fifth SingCon at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Perth Amboy, New Jersey (23–26 October 2025), hosted by Father Ivan Turyk and the Sisters Servants of the Lord and Virgin of Matara. The Perth Amboy parish was one of the pioneers of the UGCC’s liturgical music in English translation. During this SingCon, Hieromonk Herman (Majkrzak) delivered a keynote lecture entitled “The Cross of Artistic Excellence,” which advocated for silence and asceticism in worship, as well as the coexistence of choral excellence with congregational singing.

The sixth SingCon gathers at Saint Elias Church in Brampton, Ontario (10–14 September 2026), within the Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada led by Bishop Bryan (Bayda) and hosted by Father Toma Hrywna. The keynote lecture will be given by Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, Norway. Bishop Erik is a monk, bishop, and renowned spiritual author who offered the 2026 annual Lenten retreat to Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia in the Vatican.

As SingCon continues, we ask God to guide our work of praising Him in song and helping us to organize future gatherings, summer schools, publications, recordings, and videos, to the glory of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.