churchmusic.goarch.orgHome | National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians

National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians Toggle navigation Home Organization Organizational Structure Metropolis Church Music Federations Coordinating Committee Materials History Annual Meeting Publications Publications List Available Music Position Papers MUSICA Issues Antiphon Verses The Companion Resources Choir Resources Chant Resources Youth Music Resources Hymns for Kids Clergy and Parish Resources Hierarchical Visits Christ Is Risen Web Links Feast Day Services Photo Gallery Antiphon Verses Roubanis 2018 News & Events Church Music Sunday Annual Meetings Awards News Releases Become Involved Stewardship Listservs Contact Us The National Forum Metropolis Church Music Federations Feedback Archives In Memorium What is the National Forum? The National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians is the Archdiocesan ministry responsible for liturgical music activities and the development, support, and recognition of church musicians. Chartered in 1976 as an official auxiliary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America , the National Forum serves as the liaison among local church musicians, metropolis church music federations , and the Archdiocese. It also serves as the gathering place for church musicians to discuss issues related to liturgical music and to formulate needed responses. The National Forum has four major areas of focus: Support for CHOIRS , providing resources and activities to improve the quality of choirs and the availability of choral music in the church Support for CHANTERS and the preservation of BYZANTINE CHANT Support for YOUTH CHURCH MUSIC PROGRAMS , including hymnology and junior choirs Support for CLERGY , including parish music ministries, and support for clergy National Forum Facebook Feed National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians Follow us on Facebook National Forum SoundCloud Follow us on Soundcloud + Peter Vatsures 1942-2020 It is with profound sadness and loss that I share with you the falling asleep of our dear Peter Vatsures. It was an unexpected passing, with no readily ascertainable reasons, early this Thursday morning (May 7 th ), one which so many of us never expected and can hardly fathom. We have to believe God just wanted him home. What can we say about Peter? Devout Orthodox brother, a man with strong family values and love, proud Archon, kind and caring friend, devoted church musician, willing servant. All these make his loss feel even more devastating. Most of you knew him for his devotion to bringing you the Liturgical Guidebook each year, for 44 years in fact. He was always so grateful to Frank Desby in whose footsteps he followed in preparing the Guidebook, and he performed all the tasks involved with the utmost care and love. The thing that he loved most about this work were all the calls he would get from clergy, from directors and friends, even from church secretaries, anytime and especially as they came to the last pages of the Guidebook, needing help with ordering or having a question about some entry. Most of all, though, throughout the year, he enjoyed the many chats he had with so many of you, about your choirs, the music you were singing, how everything was going in your church music lives, how your families were doing. This was his essence. The Church and its music were Peter’s life. He was a church musician from his earliest years, serving in the Annunciation Cathedral Choir as both a singer and as their trusted liaison to the Parish Council. He led the Choir as chairman as they hosted four MEFGOX Conventions. He advised their directors, recruited new singers, greeted visitors, and was always there ready to help. He was a regular volunteer at Annunciation’s Greek Festivals, setting up all the sound equipment and in general monitoring all the goings on, making sure everything was in order or safe. In addition, he was an altar boy, a GOYAN, and one of the top Greek dancers in the Annunciation’s troupe. Likewise, in MEFGOX, he was a stalwart, serving in all offices except secretary and as President in 1966-67. For the last many, many years, he was the MEFGOX Treasurer; he also handled all the stewardship donations and was an active member of the Executive Board. He was MEFGOX’s cheerleader, its rock, and its wise counselor, fully dedicated, fully involved. And at the Archdiocesan level, he was from the start, a passionate member of the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, traveling to Chicago and other places to meet with the founding committee that forged our national ministry in the early years of the 1970’s. After the Forum received its charter from the Archdiocese during the 1976 Clergy-Laity Congress, Peter hosted the first “official” annual meeting of this new organization in Columbus. He attended every annual meeting since, chaired its Publications Committee, and just looked forward to reuniting and meeting all the other church musicians who also attended. To me, throughout my tenure as National Chairman, he was my wise counsel, stalwart supporter, prodder, and patient sounding board. Always there, always available, always caring. Throughout all this church service and elsewhere in his life, he was truly a genuine and caring human being. Each of us is likely remembering his smiles, his upbeat persona, his love of Greek dancing and music, his sensitivity to others, his loyalty and steadfast friendship --- and you should know how he cherished all that his friendships gave back to him! For his service in the Church, Peter was awarded the prestigious St. Romanos Medallion for Exemplary Contributions to Church Music in the Archdiocese in 1986. Then in 2012, he was given the high honor of being named Archon Kastrinsios of the Order of St. Andrew of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. May his memory be eternal! Peter's Obituary The National Forum mourns the passing of National Chariman Maria Keritsis It is with the heaviest of hearts that we let you know that our National Chairman, Maria Keritsis, fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, March 20 th . Maria has been an exemplar Orthodox Christian, church musician, and national leader. Since her early years as a choir member and junior choir director, Maria was always active in many activities and projects of her home parish of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Richmond, its parish council, its Philoptochos, and of course, its choir. She always gave generously of her time and talents. For her Church Music Federation in the Metropolis of New Jersey, her leadership and dedication were evident as she served as its President, originator and administrator of its scholarship program, and organizer of many concerts, conventions, and Church Music Institutes. Maria also had deep roots in the National Forum, starting as one of the group present with Archbishop Iakovos when the founding of the National Forum was announced in 1978, and then continuing as a delegate to Annual Meetings, serving as one of its administrative heads, and finally, in 2012, being elected as National Chairman by the Coordinating Committee of representatives from all of the Metropolises. Highlights of her tenure were how she galvanized the Oloi Mazi Team to complete their work in setting the new Synod-approved English translation of the Divine Liturgy to music and her collaboration with Father Tony Vrame of the Department of Religious Education and Metropolitan Methodios to bring the new Divine Liturgy Hymnal to fruition for the parishes. She also led Forum members in revising the instructional Hymn Series to match the new translation and also with several composers and arrangers to bring new versions of choral music that also match the new translation. For her service in church music, Maria was awarded the Athenagoras Medal for Outstanding Metropolis Service in 2001, and just last year at the Clergy-Laity Congress in Boston, the prestigious St. Romanos Medallion for Exemplary Service in Church Music at the Archdiocesan Level. As a sister in Christ, Maria was a churc...