2019 Flash Choirs:
Our Federation’s Flash Choir outreach program is in full swing this summer. The First Flash Choir was
held at St. Demetrios in Elmhurst, IL. Forty choir members from throughout the metropolis and as far
away as St. Louis, MO participated in this Flash Choir under the direction of Nick Chimitris, Choir Director
of the St. Demetrios choir of Hammond, IN. Mary Zaharis, choir director of St. Nectarios of Palatine, IL,
accompanied the choir. Our host were most gracious and appreciative. Since the Flash Choir occurred
the week after July 4 th , the choir presented a selection of patriotic songs after the liturgy. Lunch
followed at one of the local restaurants for all the participants
Our second Flash Choir took place at Assumption church in Homer Glen, IL. Rena Meintanis, choir
director of All Saints of Joliet, IL directed a choir of 36 members strong. Once again, Mary Zaharis
accompanied the choir. The event took place during the Greek Festival of Home Glen and what would
normally been a small congregation was actually a packed church. A Paraklesis was chanted after the
liturgy in honor of the myrrh streaming icon of St. John the Baptist. The choir and congregation were
anointed with the holy myrrh following the Paraklesis. Lunch followed, where else, but the parish’s
Greek Festival!
The next Flash Choir will be held August 18 th , 2019 at St. George, De Kalb, IL. Those in attendance will be
under the direction of George Panagopoulos, choir director or St. Basil church, Chicago, IL. St. Basil, by
the way, is also the conference site for the 2019 Federation conference.
held at St. Demetrios in Elmhurst, IL. Forty choir members from throughout the metropolis and as far
away as St. Louis, MO participated in this Flash Choir under the direction of Nick Chimitris, Choir Director
of the St. Demetrios choir of Hammond, IN. Mary Zaharis, choir director of St. Nectarios of Palatine, IL,
accompanied the choir. Our host were most gracious and appreciative. Since the Flash Choir occurred
the week after July 4 th , the choir presented a selection of patriotic songs after the liturgy. Lunch
followed at one of the local restaurants for all the participants
Our second Flash Choir took place at Assumption church in Homer Glen, IL. Rena Meintanis, choir
director of All Saints of Joliet, IL directed a choir of 36 members strong. Once again, Mary Zaharis
accompanied the choir. The event took place during the Greek Festival of Home Glen and what would
normally been a small congregation was actually a packed church. A Paraklesis was chanted after the
liturgy in honor of the myrrh streaming icon of St. John the Baptist. The choir and congregation were
anointed with the holy myrrh following the Paraklesis. Lunch followed, where else, but the parish’s
Greek Festival!
The next Flash Choir will be held August 18 th , 2019 at St. George, De Kalb, IL. Those in attendance will be
under the direction of George Panagopoulos, choir director or St. Basil church, Chicago, IL. St. Basil, by
the way, is also the conference site for the 2019 Federation conference.
Members of the Choir Federation Board agreed to embark on an experimental event in 2016. The choir director at St. Basil's Church/Chicago was new to his position and requested support from the Federation. The Federation Board scheduled a "Flash Choir" - whereby all Chicago Metropolis Federation members were invited to 'drop in' and sing the Liturgy. Forty-five (45) choir members attended and individual directors/musicians from throughout the Metropolis (IL, IN, MN, MO) stepped up to mentor him. Since 2016 Flash Choirs have been held at: St, Basil/Chicago, St. Iakovos/Valpariso, IN, Annunuation/Kankakee, IL (where a chouir has been created) SS Constantine an Helen/Rockford, IL
All choir members (adult and youth) are invited to join us by "dropping in" on June 30th @ All Saints in Joliet, IL @ 9:30 ready to sing Anastasiou, choir robe and Federation stoles (if you have one) are needed.
July 21st @ Assumption/Homer Glen, IL : 15625 South Bell Road, Homer Glen, IL
August 19th, @ St. George, in DeKalb, IL 320 S. Second Street, DeKalb, IL 60115