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The Psaltiki Holy Week On Mount Athos Award

…for the perpetuation and advancement of the Psaltic Art in America.

SPECIAL NOTICE.

Due to the current state of the economy, Psaltiki will not be accepting award applications in 2009. Psaltiki will next consider award requests for Holy Week of 2011. Therefore the next application deadline will be November 30, 2010.

Welcome!

Beginning in 2009 Psaltiki is the proud sponsor of the annual Holy Week on Mount Athos Award, providing the opportunity for a student of Byzantine Chant to spend Holy Week in a Mount Athos monastery.

The purpose of the award is to allow students of the Byzantine chant tradition to come into contact with the living psaltic heritage in one of its most traditional settings, the Monastic Republic of Mount Athos. The award is geared toward providing access to artistic excellence and reinvigorating the tradition in America, where most students of this traditional art form do not have the opportunity to witness the chant in its native liturgical setting.

Contest details

Psaltiki provides transportation to and from a select Athonite monastery for Holy Week, as well as securing the invitation from the monastery to the successful recipient of the award. Transportation includes air travel to Thessaloniki, Greece from Boston, MA, as well as all expenses for transportation from the Thessaloniki airport to Ouranoupolis. A paid hotel reservation will be made in Ouranoupolis. The next morning the recipient will attain their Diamoneterion from the Office for Pilgrims and depart on reserved transportation from Ouranoupolis to the Daphne, and on to the specific monastery from there. This year the hosting monastery is Simonopetra, who will issue the official invitation for the necessary dates.

The successful recipient must obtain a valid passport for travel to Greece at his own expense, as well as the necessary paperwork needed to enter the Monastic Republic of Mount Athos (details to be provided by Psaltiki). The recipient is also expected to respect all monastery etiquette and rules during their visit.

The recipient is also requested to submit an article about their experiences to be published in the Psaltiki Online Journal.

Requirements

1. The award is open to any male student of Byzantine Chant currently enrolled at Hellenic College or Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and which has completed or is in the process of completing training in Byzantine chant.
2. Submit a completed Application Form.
3. Submit a 250-word essay describing how the recipient will benefit from the experience.
4. Submit, by the application deadline, recordings—either as CD(s) or mp3 file(s)—containing three selections from the applicant's list of repertoire. At least two of the three compositions should be in Greek and the three genera of composition should be represented (i.e. heirmologic, sticheraric, papadic).
5. Submit a current digital photo of the applicant.
6. Submit a Resume including a short biographical note of no more than three pages total.
7. Have two letters of recommendation sent to the address below according to the details on the Application Form.
8. Submit the completed and signed Liability Waiver.
9. Upon return from your trip to submit an article about your experiences. The should be prepared to be published in the Psaltiki Online Journal (photos welcome).

Important Dates

• Application deadline: 28 March 2009
• Announcement of successful recipient: 31 March 2009
• Depart from Boston for Thessaloniki, Greece: 9 April 2009
• Return to US: 21 April 2009

Application

Click here to open the Application Form. Once open, click on the fields and type in the requested information. Then print the Application Form and mail to the specified address, along with the other required items. Alternately, all items can be submitted electronically.

Selection Process and Philosophy

• The selection process is made by the Psaltiki Board members and each decision is final.
• The Board will consider all submitted materials and make its decision based on the applicant who would most benefit from the Holy Week on Mount Athos experience.

Past Recipiants

2009: Georgios Livaditis

A native of Corpus Cristi, Texas and last-year student of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline MA.