With the blessings and encouragement of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, the Byzantine Music School under the direction of Rev. Father Demosthenes Paraskevaidis is offering instruction in Byzantine Chant. He will be assisted by Father Yanni Verginis who is teaching the language and history components of the curriculum. The program is being held at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in San Jose, CA where Father Demosthenes serves as the Proistamenos, and Father Yanni is the Assistant Priest. This school is dedicated to teaching and preserving the rich history and tradition of Byzantine Music. There is also an emphasis on training chanters to effectively chant in English so as to spread the wealth of hymnology to a new generation of faithful
Students meet on a weekly basis for instruction every Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 986 Chapman Street, San Jose, CA. The service of Great Vespers is held every week following class, providing students with experience chanting and reading at the Analogion (Chanter’s Stand). The class includes instruction in Byzantine notation, the modes, study of the Typikon, and the proper behavior and appearance of Chanters during the services. Classes are offered as a ministry of the Saint Nicholas parish in San Jose, however free will donations are gratefully accepted to offset expenses associated with instructional materials.
Father Demosthenes has been serving as the Proistamenos at Saint Nicholas since September 2013. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Priest at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Portland, OR from November 2009 – August 2013, where he also offered a similar Byzantine Music School. Prior to coming to the United States, he was serving at the Cathedral of the Holy Forerunner in Kavala, Greece. Father Demosthenes holds a Master of Divinity degree in Pastoral Theology from the University of Thessaloniki, as well as a degree in Byzantine Chant.
For more information on the Byzantine Music School, please visit their website. You can also contact Father Demosthenes at byzantinemusicschool@aol.com or by calling the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church office at 408-246-2770.