St. Romanos Church Music Festival
METROPOLIS OF BOSTON - St. Romanos Church Music Festival
The National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians is initiating a new project revolving around church music. The St. Romanos Church Music Festival is kicking off this spring at the Metropolis of Boston. The festival, which is similar in format to the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, will for the first time take place at the Metropolis Center on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The participant guidelines are below:
Guidelines for Participants
● Each participant must be a member in good standing of a Greek Orthodox church in the Metropolis of Boston
● Junior Division participants must be in grades 7-9.
● Senior Division participants must be in grades 10-12.
● Participants agree to have their performances and/or photographs used for promotional materials.
● Participants must wear proper church attire, be accompanied by an adult, and arrange their own travel.
● Participants must choose one selection from the following list of hymns: ○ Άξιον Εστίν (Axion Estin)
○ Άγιος, Άγιος, Άγιος (Agios, Agios, Agios)
○ Σε Υμνούμεν (Se Ymnoumen)
○ Του Λίθου Σφραγισθέντος (Tou Lithou Sfragisthendos)
○ Ότε Κατήλθες (Ote Katilthes)
○ Ευφραινέσθω τα Ουράνια (Ephrainestho ta Ourania)
○ Το Φαιδρόν της Αναστάσεως Κήρυγμα (To Phaidron tis Anastaseos Kirygma)
○ Τον Συνάναρχον Λόγον (Ton Synanarchon Logon)
○ Αγγελικαί Δυνάμεις (Angelike Dynameis)
○ Κατέλυσας τω Σταυρώ σου (Katelisas to Stavro sou)
○ Εξ ύψους κατήλθες (Ex Ipsous Katilthes)
○ Τη Υπερμάχω (Ti Ypermacho)
○ OR The Apolytikion of a particular saint
● Hymns may be sung in Greek or in English and may be read from a western or a Byzantine score.
● Participants must submit one copy of the hymn they will be singing, clean and legible, with the phrases numbered. No identifying information, of the participant or their home church, may be visible. The copy will be returned after the judges have completed their deliberations. Participants must identify their chosen hymn when registering.
● All hymns will be performed without accompaniment, but participants need not memorize their chosen hymn (a music stand will be provided).
● Before participants begin singing, they must state the title of the hymn and its category (apolytikion, megalynarion, etc) and identify when it is sung liturgically. If possible, please identify the composer and/or arranger and date of composition. You may also share your reason(s) for choosing this particular piece, if you wish.
Presentation will be evaluated on:
● Pitch accuracy and intonation
● Rhythmic accuracy
● Breath support
● Tone quality
● Diction/Enunciation
● Poise/Posture
● Interpretation/Musicianship
The first place participant from each group will be awarded a monetary award and will be eligible to participate at the Clergy Laity Conference in Cleveland, Ohio at the end of June.
Please contact Sophia Iuanow Argeros, President of Metropolis of Boston Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians at sargeros@comcast.net or 617-543-5762 to indicate the intention of your parish. To register, please click on the St. Romanos Festival registration tab.