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WHO WE ARE

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco Church Music Federation Ministry is comprised of church musicians who serve in all capacities – adult choir singers, youth choir singers, directors, chanters, composers, organists, hierarchs and clergy.

We offer a wide range of resources to parishes and individual church musicians and keep in touch with them through our newsletter, website, e-mail updates, and virtual Plenary Information and Planning Meetings.

WHAT WE DO

We are dedicated to providing the best possible resources to our parishes to help them establish and sustain music programs for adults and youth. We offer guidance in many areas to include:

  • Offering local one and two-day Church Music Institutes (CMIs) and workshops to train church musicians close to home.

  • Providing parishes with one-on-one assistance with their music program needs

  • Posting a variety of resources for music education, choir, chant, and youth music on our website.

  • Awarding music scholarships to qualified church musicians who wish to expand their skill and knowledge to serve within the program of a local parish.

  • Providing music for special Metropolis and regional functions.

  • Promoting quality music of the Orthodox Church for adults and youth.

“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 

LEADERSHIP

Click on name for brief bio.

 

Christopher Hondros, Ministry Coordinator

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.

Kay Harkins, Communications Coordinator

Parish: Saint Spyridon San Diego

Kay has been involved in the Ministry since 2010, beginning as a Regional Administrator, then serving as Secretary, Transition Coordinator, and Ministry Chair of the Federation from 2019 to 2022.  Having been received into the Orthodox faith in 2003, she began singing in the St. Spyridon choir in 2005.  She is an author, artist, and creative collaborator with a BA in Liberal studies with concentrations in music and literature, an MA in Writing and Literature, and an MFA in Writing. She taught writing and literature for 25 years at Point Loma Nazarene University, the University of Tampa, and the University of Saint Katherine.

Kay resides in San Diego, California with her husband Jack. She has two grown children, a garden with 50 rose bushes, and a rescue dog, Danny.

CONTACT US

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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.

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