Master Class by Renowned Church Choir Director V.A. Volkova Held in the Southern Capital

May 15, 2026. Alma-Ata. By the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, a master class for children’s church choirs of the Southern Capital took place at St. Sophia Cathedral of the Iveron-Seraphim Convent.

The event was held as part of the International Festival “Paschal Song.”

The session was conducted by Varvara Volkova, Executive Secretary of the Patriarchal Church-Public Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing and conductor of the “Artos” Choir of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Solntsevo, Moscow, who arrived in Alma-Ata to participate in the musical forum.

Participants in the creative gathering included: N.O. Golovina, director of the “Tsevnitsa” Church Singing School at the Ascension Cathedral of Alma-Ata; O. Kartauzova, director of the children’s choir at the Church of St. John the Theologian; and children’s church choir ensembles of the Southern Capital.

During the workshop, the renowned church choir director, together with the children, examined the musical style of performance, the history of origin and significance of well-known liturgical works. Particular attention was given to the specifics of articulation and the singing of hymns in Church Slavonic.

At the conclusion of the master class, Matushka Varvara answered questions from the participants.

At the end of the event, the distinguished guest presented the children’s choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District with her collection “Hierarchical Liturgy – Repertoire for a Children’s Choir” bearing a dedicatory inscription.