WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
The Metropolis Music Ministry serves the parishes and church musicians of our Metropolis through a comprehensive range of support including:
- Pre-Planned and Custom Workshops for Adults, Youth, and Parishes
- Library of Resources for Parishes and Individual Church Musicians
- Instructional Videos on our YouTube Channel
- Scholarships for qualified church musicians
- Regional and Metropolis-Wide Seminars, Retreats, and Concerts
- Regular Communication of news, events, and information through the Grace Note newsletter
- Open invitation to ministry participation through the Church Music Support Group
PARTICIPATE
As church musicians, we give the treasure of our voices and our love to God in our parishes. In our ministry, we give the gifts of a wide range of resources to our parishes and to individual singers, chanters, directors, and organists. All church musicians in our Metropolis are both welcome and necessary to support and sustain church music education for adults and youth.
Do you have the gift or organization, writing, teaching vocal techniques, musical literacy, or liturgics? Do you have a knack for social media? Do you enjoy bringing people together for fellowship and education? Then the Metropolis Music Ministry needs you as we plan and prepare our many workshops and programs each year.
It’s easy to join the Church Music Resource Group by letting us know the ways we might call upon you for local, regional, or Metropolis wide events and developing other educational resources. Your time and preferences will be taken into careful consideration. Simply take just a few moments to identify yourself and your gifts to us by completing this short form.
Efcharisto!
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16
To sustain and grow your parish music program, you must begin in the right place, with the right map, and the right tools. Our ministry offers an in-person or virtual seminar to bring together the people and resources in your parish to create a blueprint for bring more life to your music program.
Contact us to schedule your custom seminar!
MINISTRY LEADERSHIP
Parish: Resurrection Castro Valley
Christopher has been active in the ministry since 2018 and began serving as the Team Leader of the Church Music Development Team in 2019. He was appointed by His Eminence Gerasimos as the Ministry Chair in 2022 and now serves as the Ministry Coordinator.
Christopher has been active in improving his local church music ministry at Resurrection GOC, having been involved in youth music and education around multiple parishes within the Metropolis. He sees the Metropolis Music Ministry as the key to supporting all musical needs for the parishes and individual church musicians in the Metropolis.
An instrumentalist turned vocalist, Christopher has used his knowledge of both Western Music Theory and Byzantine Music Theory to help others, whether it is more efficient breathing techniques for students in band or learning to match pitches and sing together with the youth choir. A recipient of Patriarch Athenagoras Medal, he has also earned his Certificate in Byzantine Music from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
Christopher resides in Castro Valley with his wife Darlene, and their two children, Kassiani and Kosmas.
Athena Anastos, Representative to the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians
Parish: Assumption Scottsdale
Athena has been active in the ministry since 2006. Through the years she has been engaged in the ministry’s conferences, workshops, and meetings, serving as Co-Leader of the Events Team from 2019 to 2024 and as the primary delegate to the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians since 2023. In September 2020, she was appointed by the National Forum’s Chair, Nick Chimitris, to be Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Greek Orthodox Church Music Education.
An active member of the Assumption parish in her hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona, she directed the choir from 2007 to 2020. She and her husband Nick are proud parents of their two sons, Tom and Chris, and are enjoying their early years as yiayia and papou to their two grandchildren.
Singing praises to God – from the choir loft, chanter stand, congregation, or altar — is truly a blessed ministry! We thank the Lord for allowing us to serve Him as church musicians, and we pray for His help to carry out our ministry.
