The Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir was formed in 1997 and is pan-Orthodox, composed of singers from various Orthodox jurisdictions in the N.Y.-N.J. Metropolitan area. The choir is committed to singing the great works of Orthodox music in the English language. Spirit of Orthodoxy has performed numerous concerts throughout the metropolitan area and has made multiple recordings. The group has performed at various Orthodox, Catholic, and Episcopal Churches and has also sung performances for 9/11, Orthodox Education Day at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, at the Eastern Convention of the American Choral Directors Association, pilgrimages at St. Tikhon’s Seminary, and did a concert tour in Alaska. SoO collaborated with the Choir of the Episcopal Cathedral in Garden City N.Y. to benefit the rebuilding of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in NYC after it was destroyed by a fire. The ensemble has also collaborated with ensembles from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church, Oakland N.J., and the Rachmaninoff Choir from Bowdoin College, Maine.
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Director and Performer Biographies
Stratos J. Mandalakis is a graduate of Fordham University with a BA in Byzantine Studies and Music History/Composition. He holds an MA in Eastern Christian Theology from the John XXII Institute/Maryknoll School of Theology. His education included study with Frs. John Meyendorff,
Stanley Harakas, Robert Taft, SJ, George Maloney, SJ, and Archbishop Joseph Raya. Stratos continues his education by studying the ancient art of Byzantine Psaltic Music. Stratos studied voice with Donna Jeanne Schütz and has participated in choral and conducting masters classes with Robert Paige, Mallory Thompson and Robert Shaw. He has performed at Carnegie Hall under the direction of composer John Leavitt.Stratos lectures and has been published in the areas of Orthodox Theology, choral technique and Byzantine Church History. He has taught high school choral music and has conducted select regional choirs. Stratos is presently the Operations Manager of Corby Associates, Inc., a specialized construction company. He also teaches Byzantine Musicology in the
Antiochian House of Studies/Saint Stephen’s Course. He is a sub-Deacon, the president of the Fellowship Chapter, preaches monthly and is involved with both the parish’s music and outreach/
education ministries. He, the chanters and church choir have recorded a CD entitled, “With an Open Heart: Sounds of Worship at St. Anthony Orthodox Church, Bergenfield, N.J.” His tenure with the Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir began in 2009. He was named assistant to Founding Artistic Director, Aleksei V. Shipovalnikov, in 2013. Stratos became Artistic Director of SoO in July of this year and
is excited to continue to build and expand upon the work done by the ensemble and his predecessor: to bring people to experience the beauty of Christ’s Church as expressed in Her glorious music!
Stratos lives in Harrington Park, N.J. with his wife Suzanne and two children, Christopher and Kathryn.
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SpiritofOrthodoxy.com
For Concert Bookings and Other Info Contact:
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