The
Maidens’ Choir of our Convent is less than two years old but it is already hard
to imagine any of the concerts that are held within the walls of St Elisabeth
Convent without this collective. This choir has already performed at various
venues around Minsk. This choir will open the Royal Voice International Church
Music Festival this year. We asked Matushka Maria Bakhvalova, the precentor of
this choir, to tell our readers how this choir came into being and what gets
them going.
The Choir
“I regard this choir as a divine calling,”
Matushka Maria says. “It is vital to do everything together in the choir. All
participants of our choir must be aware of it because they do not simply sing;
they put their hearts and souls into every word, every melody, and every chant.
The singers must learn to hear one another not only during singing but also to
feel responsibility towards the choir and to help it. It’s the same as in the
church and in the family. One needs to be ready to sacrifice. It matters a lot!
I love my job and I’m proud of it. I do my best to
follow the motto set by Father Andrew Lemeshonok, “Excel in what you’re doing,
and don’t complain.”
A Precentor’s Troubles…
Sometimes, it seems to me that the job of a
precentor is difficult but I always drive these thoughts away. My job includes
interaction with people. People are different: they have their own problems and
circumstances in life. Someone may be sick, someone may be absent, but we need
each and every one in the choir! The most difficult part for me is organizing
things: making calls, writing letters, and doing the planning.
… and Joys
The most enjoyable part of my job is rehearsals:
the time when I work with music and the choir. The choir is my favorite
activity. I have studied to be a precentor since I was 12, and I have been a
choir director since I was in my second year at the Academy of Music. I am
grateful to God for letting me do this job. This is why I feel I should
disregard all difficulties and struggle with them. There are many more
enjoyable moments during my work with the choir. When you realize it, all
difficulties evaporate.
The Details
We crafted our own costumes not long ago.
Surprisingly enough, there are five young designers in our Maidens’ Choir. Looks
are important for a choir. A uniform unifies us and makes us look beautiful.
Again, inventing a costume means doing something together, such as reaching a
decision. I hope we will continue to have trustful relationships with the
girls.
The Choir as a Family
Our choir is just two years old. We grow and
develop together. We learn from each other. It is precious. I do my best to
ensure that my young singers perceive the choir not only as a place where they
sing but also as a place where they spend time together, with trips, concerts,
and rehearsals. All these events promote unity and help to develop a social
life in its own right. However, group development and growth are a formidable
undertaking, which demands a lot of time and prayer.
The Beginning of the Road
There were just six people who showed up for our
first rehearsal. It is hard to speak about the choir and the implementation of
the precentor’s musical ideas with so few singers. We started by doing the
simplest things. Of course, I wanted to achieve significant results immediately
but at that moment I knew it wouldn’t happen. Nonetheless, I was completely
calm, as if the Lord was standing by my side and guiding my steps.
I was certain that everything was possible. I
remember how I went to Father Andrew and complained that there were too few of
us. Father asked me, “How many singers do you need?” “Thirty-five would suffice,”
I replied. He assured me that we would get there eventually.
Several rehearsals later, there were more singers.
We had twelve singers who sang at our first concert. Now there are twenty
wonderful girls aged 14-20 in the choir. I believe in the power of Father
Andrew’s prayer.
The Youngest Choir of St
Elisabeth Convent
Aside from the Maidens’ Choir, I am in charge of
the Children’s Choir, and this is yet another big part of my life. Dealing with
children makes me happy, although it is the hardest of my obediences. I have to
engage the attention of the little kids who just cannot sit still, and
sometimes I have to come up with pretty unusual ways to do so. At the same
time, I have to teach them to work in the choir and be serious about their
obedience as singers. I would like them to fall in love with the choir and not
to give up singing when they grow up! It appears to me that the choir can
become their first step on the road to the spiritual life. Children do not only
learn to perform music and understand it but also develop their minds and
souls. It is not only children’s songs that we perform but also church chants,
which is essential because we pray, rather than just sing, and we do it
together.
Children tell me that they sometimes sing troparia
before tests. I am very pleased to hear about that because it is a fruit of our
labour.
I am amazed at how the two choirs – the Maidens’
Choir and the Children’s Choir – get along. The older girls help me with the
little boys and girls from the Children’s Choir, especially during joint
appearances. There are too many singers in both choirs, and it’s technically
difficult for me to make two choirs ready for the concert at the same time.
Again, we can get back to the question about difficulties. Sometimes I tell
myself that the two choirs can’t sing together but how can I refuse to show
both choirs during concerts and festivals?
The Choir’s Holy Patron
I came to the girls one day and told them that our
choir needed a holy patron whom we would ask for a blessing and help, like we
do in all other cases. We decided that Saint Sergius of Radonezh who is
venerated as the patron and helper of students would be our patron saint, too.
Saint Sergius was the gatherer of the Russian lands.
We as a choir hope that St Sergius will gather, unite, and multiply us. His
icon, painted in the Icon Painting Studio of St Elisabeth Convent, accompanies
us at our rehearsals.
Our choir will perform Peresvet,
a song written by Irina Boldysheva with lyrics by
Archpriest Andrew Logvinov, during the Royal Voice Festival. This song is
filled with the spirit of St Sergius of Radonezh and is one of our favorites.
The Beauty
When I see my girls singing on stage, it seems to
me that there is nothing more beautiful than them in the entire world. I see so
much light and beauty in their eyes! I would like the guests of the Royal Voice
Festival to see these shining eyes, too. Every singer must share some of her
skill with God and the audience.
Matushka
Maria Bakhvalova was born in Minsk. She studied choir conducting in the
National College of Arts n.a. Akhremchik, and then in the Belarusian State
Academy of Music. She was the founder and the director of Elegy Chamber Choir.
She lived in Canada from 2004 to 2015, where she founded and conducted
Troitskye Solovushki (Trinity Nightingales) Children and Youth Choir at Holy
Trinity Cathedral in Toronto, ON (ROCOR). She has been the precentor of the
Children’s and the Maidens’ Choirs of the Sunday School of St Elisabeth Convent
since 2015.
October 20, 2017
St. Elisabeth Convent
CONVERSATION