Course description
The Valamo Summer Choir is formed by experienced choir singers who master the basics of Orthodox liturgical singing. During the course, the choir practices together, develops in part singing, choral sound, and vocal production, and learns new aspects of Orthodox church music. The repertoire for the 2026 summer choir features Valamo melodies, and the course culminates in singing the services for the commemoration day of Venerable John of Valamo. At the end of the course, the summer choir will also perform a small church music concert in the monastery church. Course participants are selected based on applications; the application period has ended. Selection criteria include experience in choir singing in an Orthodox choir or similar, sight-reading skills, part-singing skills, and the balance of different voices (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) in the formed summer choir. A maximum of 20 participants will be admitted to the course. The teacher and choir director is Varvara Merras-Häyrynen, Master of Theology, musician (YAMK), music pedagogue (AMK), dir.cant. The course receives support from the Orthodox Church of Finland.
Special price 250 €/OH1 incl. teaching, accommodation and meals according to the program. No other discounts.
Course program
Monday 1.6.
13.00 Arrival at the monastery and buffet lunch, accommodation possible from 16.00
14.00 Course opening and start of studies
15.15 Choir practice
17.15 Accommodation
Opportunity for self-funded dinner, as on other days as well
18.00 Ninth Hour, Vespers, Small Compline and pravilo in the main church
19.00 Principles of the Octoechos, review of melodic formulas
20.00 Evening meal
Tuesday 2.6.
06.00 Midnight Service, Matins and Liturgy in the main church
07.30 Monastery breakfast
09.30 Body care, Tuula Riikonen (30min)
10.00 Choir practice
11.15 Break
11.30 Choir practice
12.30 Lunch
14.00 Choir practice
15.30 Break
16.00 Choir practice
17.00 Body care, Tuula Riikonen (30min)
Opportunity for dinner, self-funded
18.00 Ninth Hour, Vespers, Small Compline and pravilo in the main church
19.30 Evening meal
Lakeside sauna
Wednesday 3.6.
06.00 Midnight Service and Matins, First Hour in the main church
07.30 Monastery breakfast
09.00 Igumen Mikael's lecture on Venerable John of Valamo
09.45 Choir practice
11.00 Break
11.15 Choir practice
12.30 Lunch
14.00 Choir practice
15.30 Departure to Lintula, where coffee (self-funded) and akathist at 17.00
18.00 Ninth Hour, Vespers, Small Compline and pravilo
19.30 Evening meal
Thursday 4.6.
06.00 Midnight Service, Matins and Liturgy in the main church
07.30 Monastery breakfast
09.15 Body care, Tuula Riikonen (30-45min)
10.00 Choir practice
11.00 Break
11.15 Choir practice
12.30 Lunch
14.00 Choir practice
Rest
17.00 Opportunity for dinner, self-funded
18.00 Vigil, choir sings
Evening meal
Sauna
Friday 5.6., commemoration day of Venerable Father John of Valamo
07.30 Monastery breakfast
09.00 Third Hour and Liturgy in the main church, choir sings
11.00 Lunch
Check-out by 12.00
12.00 Moleben to Venerable John of Valamo in the main church, choir sings
13.00 Concert moment (30–40 min) in the main church
