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Music is a cornerstone of the Greek Orthodox faith—hymnals, byzantine chant, and more forms of spiritual music play a crucial role in bringing the faithful closer to the holy. From the National Forum of Church Musicians, the “Launching a Youth Music Ministry: integrating St. Romanos Youth Music Festival” workshop offered participants—clergy, choir directors, chanters and parish leaders—concrete guidance for launching and strengthening a parish youth music ministry. Participants explored how to engage Orthodox youth in the church through music and integrate music into their faith life.
Featured speakers Dawn Helene and Kirsten Shah equipped parish representatives with actionable steps to cultivate young voices, foster confidence in liturgical participation, and establish sustainable pathways for youth involvement in the musical life of the Church.
Helene is the organist at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan and was named the Cathedral’s Dino Anagnost Artist-in-Residence in 2019. Her composition of the Great Doxology, written for the Archdiocese’s Centennial Concert at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in July 2022, is among the works featured at the 2026 Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Clergy-Laity Congress, along with several of her arrangements of hymns from the Divine Liturgy. Dawn also serves as Chairperson of the St. Romanos Youth Music Festival and Youth Coordinator for the Archdiocesan District Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians.
Shah has served as a choir director in the Greek Orthodox Church for 30 years and is currently a music ministry leader and choir director at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Euless, Texas. She serves on the Metropolis of Denver Music Ministry Council and recently chaired its inaugural St. Romanos Music Festival. Nationally, she is a member of the National Forum Coordinating Committee, the St. Romanos Music Festival Committee, and chairs the Clergy-Laity Youth Choir Committee. She has presented Church Music Institute workshops across the Archdiocese. An accomplished vocalist and educator, Kirsten has performed in major venues worldwide and dedicated 16 years to public school music education.
Workshop participants explored how to teach the hymns of the Church to young learners, age-appropriate rehearsal strategies, and adaptable resources suitable for parishes of varying sizes and capacities.
In particular, the speakers discussed how to integrate the St. Romanos Youth Music Festival in youth ministry. The Saint Romanos Church Music Festival is akin to the National Archdiocesan Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival but is centered on musical excellence instead of oratorical prowess. This is an opportunity for our youth to discover, cultivate and offer their musical talents to the glory of God, inspiring a new generation of church musicians to preserve and perpetuate our sacred hymnody. Inaugural events and festivals have already taken root in each Metropolis and the National Form of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians seek to expand the festivals and youth participation.
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