SingCon 2023 ᛭ Welland, Ontario

After successful gatherings in Parma (2018) and Stamford (2019), along with several virtual gatherings and events (2020–2021),
our goal at SingCon 2023 in Welland was to consolidate our knowledge and experience,
to teach how to transmit it in a practical and manageable manner,
remaining faithful to the liturgical tradition of the Church and the authentic Kyivan Greco-Catholic heritage,
and making it prayerful and beautiful in our churches and parishes, whether great or small.
We had a great time seeing you at Saint Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church in Welland, Ontario,
to praise God together in song!

More than 80 participants gathered from all across Canada and the United States of America for the third Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Singing Conference, popularly known as “SingCon,” at Saint Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church in Welland, Ontario, from 28 September to 1 October 2023. The pastor of St Michael’s, Father Jaroslaw Lazoryk, and the parishioners welcomed the attendees and provided tasty meals in the parish hall. Over the course of four days, the participants attended workshops and rehearsals in preparation for the liturgical services during the gathering, particularly weekday Vespers in the evenings and Parastas in the mornings, as well as Great Vespers with Litia on Saturday evening for the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God, Sunday Matins, and the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. The men’s and women’s kliroi were directed by Reader Ilya Galadza and Dobrodiyka Melita Mudri-Zubacz, respectively.

Bishop Bohdan (Danylo) of the Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, presided at the Saturday evening and Sunday morning services. Since its inception in 2018, Bishop Bohdan has been the patron of SingCon, when the gathering took place in Parma, Ohio. The second SingCon took place at St Basil’s Seminary in Stamford, Connecticut, in 2019. The 2020 gathering scheduled to take place in the Philadelphia Archeparchy was postponed due to the pandemic and replaced by various online teaching initiatives and resources. This third gathering is the first regular, in-person SingCon event organized after the pandemic.

This year’s SingCon was dedicated to the memory of the newly-reposed Archpriest Roman Galadza (1943–2023), pastor of Saint Elias Church in Brampton, who was active in the previous SingCon gatherings, guiding cantors throughout the world towards a better understanding and celebration of our rich liturgical heritage. The keynote address was given by Dr. Brian Butcher, a subdeacon of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the ecumenical relations secretary for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. His stimulating talk addressed our own worship and the intersection between the psychology and sociology of singing with the experience and understanding of beauty. On Saturday evening after Great Vespers with Litia, the traditional Town Hall Discussion was moderated by Julian Hayda. Panelists included Bishop Bohdan, Hieromonk Herman, Dobrodiyka Kim Bombak, and Namisha Hlus, who discussed various questions, including inculturation and the use of English in worship, the resolutions of the recent Synod of Bishops of the UGGG held in Rome in September regarding ministry to Ukrainian refugees and the Ukrainian language, the participation of children in liturgical worship, and the meaning of “active participation” (participatio actuosa) in congregational singing.

Participants left the gathering invigorated by the beautiful worship, more knowledgeable of UGCC singing tradition through workshops and rehearsals, better informed by the discussions, and energized by the fellowship and new friendships formed over the four days together.

SingCon 2023 Schedule

bold indicates events open to the public without registration

Thursday, September 28, 2023

From 4:00 pm – Arrival and Registration

5:00 pm – Ninth Hour and Vespers

6:00 pm – Dinner

7:30 pm – Welcome, Introductions, Singing Warm-Up, Fellowship

Friday, September 29, 2023 – 🕃 Our Venerable Father Cyriacus the Anchorite

Breakfast on your own (at your hotel)

8:00 am – Parastas

9:00–10:30 am – Workshops: Session 1

10:30–11:00 am – Coffee Break

11:00–12:15 pm – Rehearsal 1

12:15 pm – Sixth Hour and Lunch (with networking and display tables)

1:45–3:15 pm – Workshops: Session 2

3:15–3:30 pm – Coffee Break

3:30–4:45 pm – Rehearsal 2

5:00 pm – Ninth Hour and Vespers

6:00 pm – Dinner

6:45 pm – Group table discussions: “Resonance Revealed: Examining Hurdles in Parish Singing – What’s working?”

8:00 pm – Public Lecture by Dr. Brian Butcher (followed by refreshments). Download the PowerPoint presentation here.

Saturday, September 30, 2023 – 🕃 The Holy Hieromartyr Gregory, Bishop of Great Armenia

Breakfast on your own (at your hotel)

8:00 am – Parastas

9:00–9:15 am – Coffee Break

9:15–10:45 am – Rehearsal 3

10:45-11:00 am – Coffee Break

11:00am-12:15pm – Workshops: Session 3

12:15pm – Lunch

1:15–2:45 pm – Workshops: Session 4

2:45–3:15 pm – Coffee Break

3:15–4:30 pm – Rehearsal 4

5:00 pm – Great Vespers with Litia

7:00 pm – Dinner

8:30–10:00 pm – Panel Discussion/Town Hall

Sunday, October 1, 2023 – 17th Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 8, Matins Gospel 7, 🕁 The Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God

8:00 am – Sunday Matins

9:45 am – Greeting and Vesting of Bishop

10:00 am – Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

12:00 pm – Group Photo and Lunch

1:00 pm – Farewell and Departures

Workshops

Stream 1: Basic Resurrectional

Workshop 1 (Friday morning): Tones

Workshop 2 (Friday afternoon): Do’s and Don’ts of the Divine Liturgy

Workshop 3 (Saturday morning): Prokeimena and Alleluia

Workshop 4 (Saturday afternoon): Supplemental Music

Stream 2: Intermediate Samohlasen

Workshop 1 (Friday morning): Tones

Workshop 2 (Friday afternoon): Vespers

Workshop 3 (Saturday morning): Presanctified Liturgy

Workshop 4 (Saturday afternoon): Order of Burial

Stream 3: Advanced Oktoechos

Workshop 1 (Friday morning): Tones (with Stream 2)

Workshop 2 (Friday afternoon): Vespers (with Stream 2)

Workshop 3 (Saturday morning): Bulgarian Tones and Dogmatica (Part 1)

Workshop 4 (Saturday afternoon): Bulgarian Tones and Dogmatica (Part 2)