President's Message
September 2005

Greetings in Christ as we begin another Liturgical year! What a wonderful opportunity to recommit ourselves to the music ministry of the Church, and to the vision we share for an inter-Orthodox music organization. We can share information, resources, expertise, advice and encouragement. We can work together on projects that benefit the entire Church in North America. PSALM is a forum that can facilitate this good work.

Since our last issue of PSALM Notes (well over a year ago) the Board of Directors has been involved in a strategic planning effort that has resulted in a new mission statement and a list of clear, realistic goals for the next five years. We felt that it was necessary to take a step back and reevaluate PSALM's role within the larger context of Orthodox music. We agreed that we must not try to duplicate the efforts of diocesan music departments, but rather, support and augment them. Our projects and goals must address the musical needs that ALL Orthodox clergy and musicians have in common and that, perhaps, cannot be addressed by individual dioceses. But most of all, we want to provide a place where Orthodox people in the music ministry can begin to learn about and appreciate each other's traditions and perspectives, which is an important first step to true unity in North America.

To that end, we are sponsoring our first national conference in 2006. This is our number one priority for the coming year. We hope to entice as many of you as possible into attending this groundbreaking event, which will gather together in one place Orthodox clergy and musicians from all traditions and jurisdictions for teaching, inspiration, discussion, fellowship, and worship. Please prayerfully consider joining us for the first PSALM National Orthodox Music Conference August 2-5, 2006.

In the coming year we will also put a great deal of energy and effort into building up the online Liturgical Music Resource, which was launched in June of this year. We invite and encourage you to submit music to the Editorial Committee for consideration, as we continue to populate this database with music from all Orthodox traditions, including the ever-evolving American expression of Orthodox liturgical music.

Building up our volunteer forces is also a very high priority this year. We have no paid staff at this time, and so we need individuals who are committed to the mission of PSALM, who have some time to contribute to specific projects and tasks, and who have expertise in the areas of database management, marketing, graphic design, accounting, fund raising, curriculum development, and many other areas. If you have a heart for this ministry and a bit of time to give, please contact me directly at vysheets@aol.com. I would love to talk to you about how we might work together!

As we begin this new Church Year, I wish you God's strength and blessings in your music ministry. May God renew our commitment to acquiring the knowledge, skill and zeal for helping our parishes to develop music in worship that is engaging, prayerful and beautiful!

In Christ's service,

Valerie Yova, PSALM National President

(Valerie Yova is Choir Director of St. Anthony's Orthodox Church (Antiochian Archdiocese) in La Jolla, CA, a Founder and former Artistic Director of the Orthodox Christian Chorale of Detroit, and holds a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory of Music.)