ISOCM News
Please send all relevant information for inclusion to the Rev. Ivan Moody at ivan.moody@uef.fi or Maria Takala-Roszczenko at mtakala@isocm.com.

Note: The efficient functioning of this page depends entirely on information received. 

Doctoral thesis on St. Petersburg Court Chant
and the Tradition of Eastern Slavic Church Singing
Turku, Finland - An interesting new research on St. Petersburg Court Chant is presented by a founder member and a frequent participant of the ISOCM conferences, Jopi Harri. Read more

New Publications on Theory and History of Monody
Vienna, Austria - The editors, Martin Czernin and Maria Pischlöger of the Austrian Byzantine Society, are happy to present three new volumes in the series "Theorie and Geschichte der Monodie", featuring the proceedings of the international conferences on church monody in 2002 and 2004, and a Festschrift in honor of Professor Bozhidar Karastoyanov (2011). Read more

ISOCM Members Participate in World Premiere of Liturgical Composition
New York, NY - ISOCM Members recently participated in the world premiere of the original musical settings composed for the Divine Liturgy by fellow ISOCM member, Roman Hurko. The liturgy was celebrated on 12 and 13 November 2011 in New York City with Mr. Hurko directing a mixed voice choir of nearly 80 voices. Read more

ISOCM Represented at International Congress of Byzantine Studies
Sofia, Bulgaria - Nearly twelve-hundred scholars gathered here for the 22nd International Congress of Byzantine Studies held 22-27 August 2011. Among those who participated in the event were a number of ISOCM members, and Yulia Artamonova, a member of the ISOCM board. Read more

ISOCM represented at Australian ROCOR Music Conference
Brunswick, Victoria, Australia - Father Ivan Moody, ISOCM Board Chair participated as a guest lecturer during the recent Liturgical Music Conference held at the Cathedral of the Protection of the Holy Virgin here from 14 - 17 July 2011. Read the article

ISOCM featured in Japanese Orthodox Diocesan Magazine
Nagoya, Japan - The International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) was featured prominently in the July 2011 issue of the Nagoya Orthodox Church Monthly Magazine. In particular, the article featured photos and information about the 4th International Conference held in Joensuu, Finland in June 2011. Read the article

The 4th ISOCM Conference was also featured in the summer issue of the Church of Japan's Western Diocesan magazine. Read the article (in Japanese).

International Conference on Orthodox Church Music Concludes
Joensuu, Finland - The 4th International Conference on Orthodox Church Music concluded on Friday, 10 June 2011 here, at the School of Theology, University of Eastern Finland. The conference, hosted by the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM), featured participants from twenty different countries presenting papers on a variety of topics related to the conference’s overall theme of “Unity and Variety in Orthodox Music: Theory and Practice.” Read more

Professor of Church Music position open at University of Eastern Finland
Joensuu, Finland - The University of Eastern Finland has announced the opening for professor of Church Music at its Joensuu campus. Read more

Registration for ISOCM's Fourth Conference Opens
Joensuu, Finland - The International Society for Orthodox Church Music is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Fourth International Conference on Orthodox Church Music, "Unity and Variety in Orthodox Music: Theory and Practice."

The conference will be held at the University of Eastern Finland, in Joensuu, Finland, on 6 - 12 June 2011.

Use the on-line form to register for the event.

Viennese Conference discusses “Theory and History of Monody”
Vienna, Austria - ISOCM members participated in the international conference on church monody “Theorie unde Geschichte der Monodie” - “Теория и история монодии” in Vienna, Austria, on 30 September - 2 October 2010. Read more

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Archived ISOCM News
Previous news items which appeared on ISOCM.com

Tarja Jormalainen (von Creutlein) 1957-2010

Tarja was the Prodromos in the research of the Finnish Orthodox church music.  She reached her academic goal before others and gave them a living example. Read more

ISOCM Members Participate in Orthodox Church Festival

Pomorie, Bulgaria – Members of the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) recently participated in the 7th annual International Festival of Orthodox Music "The Theotokos: It is Truly Meet," which took place here 9-13 June 2010. Read more

ISOCM Members Participate in Orthodox Church Festival

Joensuu, Finland – Members of the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) recently participated in the Festival of Finnish Orthodox Church “Church – the Hope of the Creation” which took place here 11-13 June 2010. Read more

Fourth International Conference on Orthodox Church Music Announced

Joensuu, Finland – The International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) announced that the 4th International Conference on Orthodox Church Music will be held 6-12 June, 2011 at the University of Eastern Finland, in Joensuu, Finland. Read more

ISOCM Board Members Meet for Spring 2010 Meeting

Joensuu, Finland – Board members of the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) recently concluded their Spring 2010 meeting. During the internet-based meeting, a variety of topics related to the Society’s mission were discussed, including initial plans for the 2011 ISOCM conference. Read more

International Society for Orthodox Church Music to Hold Annual Meeting

Joensuu, Finland – The International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) announced its 2010 annual meeting will be held Monday, 14 June 2010 at 14:00 in the building of the ex-Theological Faculty, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu. Read more

ISOCM Board Chair Teaches at US Seminary

Crestwood, New York, USA – Fr. Ivan Moody, ISOCM Board Chairman presented a class on arranging liturgical music for parish usage at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. That evening, Fr Ivan participated in a public forum about his life, his work, and his reflections on liturgical music. Read more

International Conference on Orthodox Church Music Concludes
Organization brings musicians from 14 countries together for dialogue and the sharing of ideas

The Third International Conference on Orthodox Church Music, hosted at the University of Joensuu, Finland by the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) concluded Sunday, June 14. During the conference, speakers from fourteen countries made presentations on topics related to the role of Church, State, and Nation in Liturgical Music. Read more

Greetings of His Eminence, Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland at the Opening Reception for the Third International Conference on Orthodox Church Music

On behalf of the Orthodox Church of Finland I would like to express my gratitude for this occasion to be together with you friends from different orthodox churches. I am personally very glad that we are able to gather together for this third International Conference on Orthodox Church Music here in Joensuu. Read more

Greetings of Teuvo Pohjolainen, PhD, Vice Rector of the University of Joensuu at the Opening Session for the Third International Conference on Orthodox Church Music

On behalf of the University of Joensuu I have the great pleasure and honour to wish you all warmly welcome to North Karelia to the University of Joensuu and to the Third International Conference of Orthodox Church Music organized by Department of Orthodox Theology, Faculty of Theology at the University of Joensuu in co-operation with The International Society for Orthodox Church Music. Read more

Greetings of Hilkka Seppala, Professor of Orthodox Church Music of the University of Joensuu at the Opening Session for the Third International Conference on Orthodox Church Music

Undeniably, Orthodox Church music stands unequaled in the world.  The musical principles were founded during the early days of the Christian Church, empowered by spiritual knowledge and wisdom; and prominent Byzantine theologians and Church teachers have contributed to its development and refinement. Read more

International Conference on Orthodox Church to open in Joensuu, Finland, June 8
Programme to focus on the role of Church, State, and Nation in Liturgical Music

After months of organizing and preparing, the board and members of the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) are ready to host the Third International Conference on Orthodox Church Music, beginning Monday, June 8 at the University of Joensuu, Finland. Read more

ISOCM Conference Proceedings Published

The proceedings from the Second International Conference on Orthodox Church Music, organized by the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM), have been published, entitled "Composing and Chanting in the Orthodox Church." Read more

ISOCM Members Invited to Attend Annual Meeting

All current ISOCM members are invited to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting which will be held on Wednesday, 10 June during the Society’s 3rd international conference on Orthodox church music. The meeting will take place in the Faculty of Theology beginning at 4 p.m. Read more

New website launched by ISOCM, February 2009

The International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) recently launched an expanded version of their website at www.isocm.com. The new website will enable the Society to enhance the development of musical resources throughout the worldwide family of Orthodox Churches. Read more

New website launched by James Chater, November 2008

The English composer and musicologist James Chater recently launched a new website featuring his compositions, writings on music, and as James calls them, a few gratuitous comments on various political and other subjects.

visit his site: www.jameschater.com

New Vespers release by Roman Hurko, November 2008

Roman Hurko is pleased to announce the publication of his recent setting of Vespers (Вечірня). The fifteen-movement work is a setting, for double SATB chorus and soloist, of the complete Eastern-rite (Orthodox/Byzantine Catholic) Vespers, in the original Church Slavonic.

visit Roman's site: www.romanhurko.com

Scholarship for writing PhD in Germany
deadline was 30 Sept 2008!

Read more about the program (in German).

ISOCM Chair ordained to the holy priesthood, October 2007
His Eminence, Metropolitan Polykarpos ordained ISOCM Chair Ivan Moody to the priesthood in Lisbon, Portugal.

Read more and see photos.

ISOCM 2007 Conference Musical Highlights, June 2007
The 2nd ISOCM conference, organized in Joensuu, Finland in June 2007, was a feast of singing also off the academic stage.  Some of the musical highlights of the Conference were recorded by David Lucs and are now included in the library collection of ISOCM in CD form.  Read more

Another Book and CD Donation from Greece
Protopresbyter Fr Spyridon Antoniou, an ISOCM member and speaker at the Second International Conference in Joensuu, has donated to the Society his study on Byzantine singing and a CD performed by his choir and conducted by himself. Read more

ISOCM Board Meeting in Ilomantsi, Finland, July 2006
The Board of ISOCM met during Pyhän kosketus, an international church music festival in Ilomantsi, Finland.

Read more

Book Donation from Greece, May 2006
ISOCM has received a book donation containing studies of Byzantine music written by Fr. Nektarios Paris and Dr. Panagiotes Ch. Panagiotides.  Read more

Protopsaltes Nikolaos Nikolaides 1943-2006
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Nikolaos Nikolaides, Archon Protopsaltes of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Stockholm on 25th March 2006.  Eternal memory! Read more

Annoucing A New International Music Conference to be held, June 2005

The music of the Orthodox Church, in all its diverse cultural manifestations, constitutes one of the riches of the artistic heritage of the world. The constantly increasing popularity and knowledge in the West of the various repertoires which make up this heritage, paralleling the increased exposure of the Orthodox Church outside its traditional territories, have generated a correspondingly greater interest both on part of performers, and of scholars in the fields of musicology and liturgiology. Read more