The First Pan-Australian Byzantine Music Conference of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia
The Byzantine Music School of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, on Saturday, 2 March 2024, organised the first Pan-Australian Byzantine Music Conference with the theme: “Teaching and Learning the Art of Ecclesiastical Chant in Australia – Challenges and Opportunities”.
The aim of the Conference was to bring together teachers and students of the BMSA on a pan-Australian level and to discuss issues of concern to teachers and students and explore ideas and suggestions for the future.
His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, welcomed the delegates to the premises of the Archdiocesan District of Northcote Victoria, at the “Axion Esti” Monastery, and read a message from His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, congratulating all the organisers, especially the director of the School in Adelaide, Mr. Nikos Biri, and the director of the School in Melbourne, Mr. Stylianos Andreou.
A total of 6 presentations were made during the Conference. The Director of the School in Sydney, Mr. Basilios Psilacos, and also the teacher of the School in Sydney, Mr. Dimitrios Koumbaroulis, Mr. Alexandros Kallionatis who teaches in Canberra and Mr. Andreas Ziogas, a teacher in Queensland, all spoke appropriately about their experience as teachers of Byzantine Music. Finally, the directors of the Schools of Adelaide and Melbourne Mr. Nikos Biri and Mr. Stylianos Andreou respectively made their own presentations.
During the presentations, a general picture of the conditions prevailing in each city was given and the objective difficulties of both teachers and students in the process of learning Byzantine Music were identified.
After the presentations, the delegates were divided into smaller groups and discussed issues that mainly concern the students of the School, and proposed solutions and ideas for the progress of the School.
The organisers of the first Pan-Australian Conference of the Byzantine Music School expressed their gratitude for His Eminence’s care and concern for the teaching of Byzantine Music through the School of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, and thanked His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, for the support and provision of all possible assistance for the perfect hospitality of the delegates.
