2009 Conference HIghlights

Reverend Father Demetri Kangelaris, Choir Director Scott Marshall, Youth Director Connie Marshall, Conference Chairman Virginia Moutos and her Committee, along with the entire parish of The Annunciation of Winston-Salem, NC are to be commended for the great job they did in hosting the 2009 Choir Conference. You made it a memorable event through your infectious enthusiasm, phyloxenia and the royal treatment we all received during our stay.
On Sunday over 120 adult and 34 youth choir members congregated to spiritually uplift all in attendance by singing “The Liturgy of Peace” under the direction of guest director and composer Mr. Christopher Kypros of Norfolk, Virginia.

 Highlights of the weekend:
No CMI Workshops were held during the conference weekend since it was decided to have 2 independently scheduled workshops during the year.
Friday’s General Business Meeting discussions revolved around the Scholarship 100 Guidelines, Pros and Cons of having CMI Workshops in conjunction with the annual
Conference, Relocation of the Federation Library to the Metropolis, the 2009-2010 Budget, Election of officers and ways to develop a complete list of all the choir members in our federation. It was announced that Holy Trinity Cathedral of New Orleans, LA would like to host the next Choir Conference in the later part of June 2010.  
At the Saturday evening banquet the 2009 SFGOCM Youth Choir entertained everyone by presenting Chronos: a Modern Greek Epic followed by a toe tapping song and dance finale that had everyone clapping and cheering them on. Youth director Connie Marshall  did a great job of transmitting her infectious enthusiasm to the participating youth.

Scholarships were awarded at the Saturday Night Banquet to the following:
Branko Ilievski of St. Mark in Boca Raton FL
Lygheri Danielides of St. Demetrios in Daytona Beach, FL.

On Sunday Archmandrite Gregorios Tatsis swore in a new executive board:
President – Margaret Sarafoglu of St. Sophia Cathedral in Miami, FL
Vice President – Suzy Balasis of St. John The Baptist in Tampa, FL
Secretary – Lucy Zapsas of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Charlotte, NC
Treasurer – Nick Mermigas of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Charlotte, NC
Librarian – Toula Chininis of St. Nicholas Church in Spartanburg, SC
Immediate Past President – John P. Mitchell of St. John The Baptist in Tampa, FL

Patriarch Athenagoras I Medals were given by Archmandrite Gregorios Tatsis to:
Leon Karahalist of St. Sophia Cathedral in Miami, FL
Fr. Deacon Charles Joiner of St. George in Greenville, SC
John P. Mitchell of St. John The Baptist in Tampa, FL