Poster Cappella Romana vocal ensemble
Cappella Romana is a professional vocal ensemble based in Portland, Ore., that performs early and contemporary sacred classical music in the Christian traditions of East and West.
courtesy David Lucs

East meets Midwest: Music from Orthodox traditions converges in the Twin Cities

Alison Young interviews David Lucs of the International Society for Orthodox Church Music

When we think of choral music in the religious context, most of us think of Gregorian Chant or music from the Catholic and Protestant traditions. Orthodox church music is from the east and includes languages as diverse as Russian, Arabic, Syrian, Bulgarian and even Finnish.

David Lucs is a board member of the International Society for Orthodox Church Music, and he represents North America, a place where orthodoxy thrives and takes on an entirely unique sound, chants and hymns sung in our vernacular, English.

Coming up this Thursday, June 23, in the Twin Cities is a regional symposium that explores not only this broad and diverse tradition but also the heightened experience of communicating with the divine in services, workshops, through discussions and in a unique opportunity to hear a concert by Cappella Romana, one of the finest choirs in the world that specializes in Orthodox music.

Among the symposium participants are Dr. Kurt Sander and Father Ivan Moody. St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral in Northeast Minneapolis celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, and its choir will also be on hand to celebrate with directors, composers, singers, chanters, musicians and musicologists from all over the world.

Capella Romana's concert is open to non-participants in the symposium and takes place Thursday evening at 7:30 at the Basilica of St. Mary and is preceded by a pre-concert lecture.

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