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More than 100 church musicians from the Metropolis of Chicago gathered Oct. 10–12, 2025, at St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Palatine, Illinois, for the 67th Annual Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians (FGOCM) Choir Conference. Under the spiritual guidance of His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, and the local parish leadership of Proestamenos Reverend Father Chris Mihalopoulos, the faithful joined together for a weekend of worship, music, and fellowship.
Hosted by the St. Nectarios choir and chaired by Diakonissa Mary Zaharis, the conference centered on the theme “We Lift Up Our Voices Unto the Lord.” Participants attended rehearsals and workshops led by Dr. Peter Jerminov, Melanie Burbules, and Joseph Karos, exploring wellness in music, the spiritual dimension of singing, and Byzantine chant. The Saturday evening banquet honored choir members celebrating 25 to 70 years of service, followed by dancing and fellowship.
The weekend concluded Sunday morning with the 105-voice a cappella choir singing the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, arranged by Michael B. Petrovich and directed by George Tzougros of Madison, Wisconsin—an inspiring finale to one of the largest and most uplifting gatherings in FGOCM history.
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