Psaltries CHOIR OF MELBOURNE
The Official Choir of the Women in Byzantine Music Worldwide Association, “Psaltries”, was established in Greece on December 2017, four years after the Association was established by Nektaria Karantzi, the prominent Greek vocalist of sacred music who is acclaimed as one of the most important female voices in byzantine chant worldwide.
Since the beginning of 2022, a branch of the Psaltries Choir, an artistic vocal ensemble, was established in Melbourne. Regular rehearsals and classes are also held under the direction of Nektaria Karantzi and locally coordinated by Ioanna Nikoloulea.
The Psaltries Choir of Melbourne specialises in and is devoted to the dissemination and study of Byzantine chanting, highlighting the beauty of the female approach to Byzantine Hymns.
With the blessing of Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis, the Psaltries Choir of Melbourne chants at selected and significant appearances.
Rehearsals are held regularly in Melbourne.
All members of the Psaltries Choir, both in Greece and abroad, can make daily contact, exchange information, educational materials, and practice materials from rehearsals through the official social media platform of our Association.
The Psaltries Choir accepts requests for new members and hearings via email: women.byzantinemusic@gmail.com
PSALTRIES CHOIR OF MELBOURNE
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
GREEK-AUSTRALIAN FILM SOCIETY LAUNCH
On Friday, October 27th, the Psaltries Choir of Melbourne gave a performance at the launch of the Greek-Australian Film Society Inc. at the Abbotsford Convent.
inaugUral launch of women in philanthropia
On the evening of Friday, 26 May 2023, the Psaltries Choir of Melbourne performed at the inaugural launch of Women in Philanthropia, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
The night was truly spectacular; no detail was left unattended. Flawless!
It was a true honour for the Psaltries Choir of Melbourne to be a part of a historic event, alongside strong, hard working, philanthropic, like-minded Greek women.
BETWEEN EAST AND WEST
On the evening of Saturday, 1 April 2023, the Psaltries Choir of Melbourne had the great honour of performing in an exclusive concert with virtuoso pianist Vassilis Tsabropoulos, the acclaimed international female chanter Nektaria Karantzi and celist Sava Djukic in the enchanting courtyard pavilion of the Hellenic Museum in Melbourne.
Between East and West Sold Out
9 March 2023
Following their success at the global Orthodox Arts Festival in October 2022, we are pleased to announce that the Psaltries Choir of Melbourne, held under the direction of the world-renowned Orthodox female chanter, and our Founder of this Association, Nektaria Karantzi, will perform at the sell-out concert, Between East and West, on Saturday, 1 April, at the Hellenic Museum.
Also released this week is brand new footage of the Psaltries Choir of Melbourne singing “Let the Heavens Rejoice” filmed locally in Sandringham:
AWARD IN CHANTING EXCELLENCE
18 October 2022
The international Orthodox Arts Festival has today announced that the Melbourne-based Women in Byzantine Music Worldwide Association members won the Chanting Excellence Award.
This year, the Melbourne-based Women in Byzantine Music Worldwide Association members participated in The Orthodox Arts Festival, an online event devoted to Orthodox Artists to share their combined creativity and inspiration with the rest of the world.
They were the only chanters within Australia who were shortlisted to participate in the festival and called upon the Greek Community of Melbourne for their support.
"We are overwhelmed and overjoyed by the outpouring of support and kindness from the Melbourne community who voted for us!"
The Women in Byzantine Music Worldwide Association members hold regular rehearsals under the guidance and direction of Nektaria Karantzi, a globally acclaimed vocalist and icon of the contemporary Byzantine music community.
They specialise and are devoted to the dissemination and study of Byzantine chanting, highlighting the beauty of the female approach to Byzantine Hymns.
Click here to see the Orthodox Arts Festival winners of various categories
IN THE MEDIA
Orthodoxia News Agency - 18 October 2022
Neos Kosmos (English) - 19 October 2022
Neos Kosmos (Greek) - 21 October 2022
Ta Nea (English) - 19 October 2022
3XY Radio interview with Nektaria Karantzi (Greek) - 28 October 2022
Neos Kosmos (English) - 9 March 2023
Neos Kosmos (Greek) - 12 March 2023
The Greek Herald (English) - 29 May 2023
PSALTRIES CHOIR OF MELBOURNE
PHOTO AND VIDEO GALLERY
TESTIMONIAL
The Psaltries’ chanting was just incredible, we have had so many people saying how beautiful it was!
THEY sounded like angels and I couldn't have imagined THEM sounding any better than THEY did.
Nathan and I kept saying after that the feel of the ceremony was absolutely made by THE girls - just heavenly!
~ Peita Zannis