Roster Updates

This is the letter that was mailed on 3/4/24 with a copy of your parish's official EFGOCM roster

Dear Fellow Church Musicians (choir members, chanters, organists and educators),

I offer greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ from the Music Ministry of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey - the Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians.

Since 1977, the EFGOCM has served to strengthen and support the music programs of our parishes through workshops and conferences for choirs, chanters, youth and priests.

In the early days of our federation, a database was created with the names and addresses of our people who have been in the choir or at the psaltirion. Although, we mostly communicate these days via email, we still use the database for that occasional USPS mailing as well as the Years-of-Service program we have offered for more than 20 years. In the database, one person (usually the choir director) is designated as the point person for each of the Metropolis parishes.

Between COVID and a general decline in participation, many of our database entries are no longer current. In an effort to maintain the database, we are asking for your help.

Included in this mailing is your parish’s portion of the church music database. Please update it in the following way: strike through the name/address of those who no longer participate and if it applies, indicate “Retired” or Deceased”. Also add the name and mailing address of new members as well as any that require correcting. If your parish no longer has a choir, let me know that too. Lastly please indicate the parish priest(s), choir director, organist, and head chanter. When this is complete, return to me preferably by the beginning of Holy Week, at the address below. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.

Thanks so much for your assistance and have a blessed Great Lent.

Nicholas Kyrus
Communications and Database Chair

116 S. Cherry Street Falls Church, VA 22046