Ukraine's first specialized church singing school for youth aged 14-25. 36 students, 3-year programme. Start 1 September 2026.
Khor Khreshchatyk announced on 18 January 2026 the founding of the 'Youth Church Singing School' — Ukraine's first specialized school for training young church singers. The school opens on 1 September 2026 at 22 Volodymyrska Street (next to St. Michael's Cathedral). This is a 3-year programme for 36 students aged 14-25, selected from 280 applications. Didactics — 3-course-year structure: I (14-17 years) — Foundation of sacred singing, history of Orthodox music; II (17-20 years) — Solo and ensemble techniques, Byzantine traditions; III (20-25 years) — Performance, accompaniment, conducting basics. Each of 36 students receives 4 individual + 2 group sessions per week. Teaching staff: 8 professional Khor Khreshchatyk singers plus 4 invited foreign: 2 from Greece (for Byzantine tradition), 1 from Syria (Antiochian Orthodox tradition), 1 from emigration in Prague (post-Soviet perspective). Graduation works — each of 36 students prepares a 12-minute solo fragment and participation in two graduation concerts (1 with main choir, 1 separate — students-only). Graduation concert runs at St. Michael's Cathedral in June 2029. School budget — 2.4 million UAH per year (from Ukrainian Cultural Foundation 50% + Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church 30% + private donations 20%). Education is free for Ukrainian students; foreign students pay €1500/semester. The school partners with similar schools in Greece, Poland, Bulgaria, Serbia for exchange of experience.
