For the first time ever, the Moscow Podvorie Choir of the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra opened its doors to 35 participants, both male and female signers from the USA, Canada and Australia, to join the renown Podvorie Choir in the singing of a Vigil and Divine Liturgy.

This trip offered the unprecedented opportunity for participants to work with Maestro Vladimir Gorbik and the Podvorie choir for a four-day workshop in Slavonic sacred choral music as guests of the Podvorie.

Participants enjoyed daily intensive workshop sessions and exclusive excursions to Sergiev Posad Lavra and top Moscow attractions, such as the Kremlin and Christ the Savior Cathedral. The package included double occupancy accommodations, all meals, tuition and materials.

Read more about the Master Class from the participants themselves, including Isaac Crabtree and Andrew Gould.

Testimonials

“The goals, as I understood them, were to train a group of American musicians in the several pieces chosen, so that we actually sounded not only like a professional choir, but like a professional Russian Orthodox choir. I am in no position myself to judge this, but Maestro Gorbik told us afterwards that the monastery was very pleased with us. Others of the faithful in attendance also expressed their great appreciation.” – Isaac Crabtree

“As one of the participants, I found the experience broadening and fascinating in several ways. It was a great joy to sing with such an excellent group of musicians, and it was a surprise to see how readily this international group of voices blended. The guest singers were from the USA, Canada, and Australia. Most did not speak Russian, and some had little to no experience singing in Slavonic. Thanks to excellent transliterated scores from Musica Russica and crystal-clear directing on the part of Maestro Gorbik, it took little time for this group to blend perfectly with the professional singers who joined us from the Podvorye Male Choir and the Moscow Conservatory.” – Andrew Gould