Choir
Under the direction of Choirmaster Harry Ermides, the Senior Choir of St. Sophia takes pride in providing inspirational liturgical hymns which are sung during the year in Church. Additionally, the Choir has taken on varied programs such as the Christmas Pageant Program and the Holy Week Program, as well as a concert entitled “A Journey to Pascha” prior to Holy Week.
In February 2007, the Choir debuted “in concert” along with the acclaimed Albany Symphony Orchestra at The Canfield Casino in Saratoga, the Troy Music Hall in Troy and The Berkshire Theater in Pittsfield, MA. The World Premier of Greek Composer Kostis Kritsotakis, “The Voyage of Odysseus” was performed masterfully by our Choir giving the St. Sophia Community and members of this choir a lot to be proud of. This was the main event of the concert series titled “Mythology” and was attended by over 1200 patrons in the communities mentioned, in spite of severe snowstorms during the first two concert nights. The St. Sophia Choir recorded its first CD Easter 2008. The CD “Hymns from the Divine Liturgy and Holy Pascha,” recorded March 29, 2008 contains a collage of hymns from the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom as well as many of the beautiful hymns from Holy Week and the Lenten period. Our 2nd CD was recorded live on February 9th at the Divine Liturgy by a Reunion Choir of present and past members of the Choirs of Spiro Takes whose 10 year memorial was commemorated on that day. Both CD’s are available from the St. Sophia bookstore or church office. Beyond all this, however, is the camaraderie and fellowship which the choir shares as friends and family members having the opportunity and the privilege to sing praises to our Lord Jesus Christ. The Choir will begin singing at the September 16th service. Rehearsals are usually held each Thursday at 7:00 PM. Join us during open enrollment during the months of September or January if you can sing. This year we will be rehearsing early in the year in order to prepare for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy during the visitation of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Thanksgiving weekend. His visit coincides with the 90th Anniversary of our community.
We will also be preparing a special Christmas presentation in December that will help bring in a Joyous Christmas season for all. The choir will, once gain, sing the Hallelujah Chorus and other contemporary as well as traditional Christmas favorites. We really need people who love to sing, to and join us this September.
Our Youth Choir is made up of youths 4th grade through Middle School (Note: All youths starting in 7th grade are welcome to join the Sr. Choir. The Youth Choir is the training ground for our future choir membership and will take an active role in church life as it develops. Members are made up of children who want to sing and are able to attend promptly, each Sunday, by 9:30 am through the beginning of Sunday School. In 2011 three to six youths from various school grades participated with the Sr. Choir before their Sunday School classes began. They form a nucleus of, what I hope to become, the next Sr. Choir. Each of these kids loves our church and love to sing. These are the key ingredients for success of any choir. So, I welcome everyone who loves to sing and loves our church to join our choir. Join today!
