- 1520 GREEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123
- 415-567-WEST(9378)
- webmaster@dowoca.org
Come sing with us this summer at the Diocese of the West’s Music Practicum! Whether you are a current Choir Director or an aspiring music leader, we invite you to join in our effort to cultivate practical strategies leading to the next good steps for our parish choirs.
Guided by an experienced team of clergy and lay leaders, practicum participants will engage in hands-on learning sessions centered on establishing a positive choir culture and effective musical communication. These sessions will feature working rehearsals, inspiring lectures, and relevant troubleshooting aimed at building relationships that will enable support to extend long into the future.
Date: July 20-24, 2026
Location: St. Seraphim of Sarov Cathedral / Protection of the Holy Virgin in Santa Rosa, California
Age Requirement: 18 years of age (or 16 accompanied at all times by legal guardian)
Cost: $500*
Registration: Registration for the Music Practicum closes July 3, 2026, or once capacity is reached.
*Registration cost includes all sessions and meals throughout the practicum, but does not include transportation and/or lodging.
Room blocks have been secured at Oxford Suites at the rate of $147/night.
Archpriest Lawrence Margitich is the Rector of the Protection of the Holy Virgin Parish/St. Seraphim Cathedral in Santa Rosa, CA. He attended the University of Hawaii from 1975-1977, studying classical guitar and Russian. He transferred to the Berklee College of Music in Boston and earned a Bachelor of Music in guitar performance and conducting in 1980, while attending Holy Trinity Cathedral in Boston, and directing choir there as an alternate conductor. Subsequently, he attended St. Vladimir’s Seminary, graduating in 1984 with a Master of Divinity. Before ordination, he served as choir director in Claremont, New Hampshire, and Springfield, Vermont, before moving to Santa Rosa in 1985 to direct choir at the Protection Church. He was ordained deacon in 1995 and priest in 1997. He is on the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the West, and provides support for the Liturgical Music Department of the Diocese and for the OCA. Fr. Lawrence is married to Ann (Wassell) and has three children and five grandchildren.
Archpriest David Morrison is grateful to serve the wonderful St. Anthony Orthodox Church in Bozeman, Montana, as well as the vibrant St. Moses Mission in Helena, Montana. A professional Bass-Baritone singer, he has sung for years with Grammy nominated St. Tikhon Choir, as well as with PaTRAM Institute Male Choir, traveling to Israel and Palestine, and recording on the Mount of Olives. He has taught piano, guitar, and voice lessons over the years, conducted and mentored choirs, and led workshops in a variety of church and choral settings. His background includes three CDs, awards from the Gospel Music Association, working as a professional worship leader and consultant, musical theater, gospel music, youth and college ministry, and years of classical music performance and study. A St. Tikhon seminary graduate (2013) who serves on the Diocesan Council, Fr. David is gratefully married to Matushka Patti, with three great (and musical) kids.
Matushka Ruth Greenfield has been directing the choir at SS. Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Mission in Chico, California since 2004. She studied classical voice at Northwestern University School of Music and holds a California CTE credential in the performing arts. Since 1996, she has been professionally performing, recording, and teaching singing. Now, when she isn’t directing at church, she is teaching classroom music to kindergarten through fifth graders; directing the choir, band, and theatre programs at a wonderful K-8 charter school; directing the antidivas, a non-profit women’s choir she founded in 2012; and especially loving on her five little grandchildren.
Deacon Serge Liberovsky serves as Choir Director at Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles, California. He holds a Master’s of Music in Choral Music from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. As a low bass, Deacon Serge has sung professionally with ensembles in New York, Los Angeles, Jerusalem, Washington D.C., Saratov, and Salt Lake City. When not leading his singers on the Kliros, Deacon Serge can be found backstage with the LA Chamber Orchestra, where he serves as Music Librarian.
Justin Margitich grew up studying and singing the music of the Church. His academic background includes studies in music, jazz, and classical genres, with a focus on piano and voice. He has a bachelor’s degree in art from California College of the Arts (2008) and a master’s degree in art from San Francisco Art Institute (2013). He is represented by Miskowitz-Bayse Gallery in Los Angeles, where he exhibits his paintings. In addition to his artistic career, Justin works as a behavioral therapist and consultant for families with disabilities. As a singer, he performs with “Circa 1600,” a professional choir in Sonoma County that specializes in medieval and baroque choral music. Justin is the father of two girls who are just starting to sing in the choir!
Anna Olson is the Choir Director at the Church of the Annunciation in Milwaukie, Oregon, the parish in which she grew up. She has been involved in choir leadership since 2019. After completing dual bachelor degrees in Music and Spanish at George Fox University, she attended the St. Tikhon’s Monastery Music Residency Program in Pennsylvania, further immersing herself in Orthodox music. Anna enjoys composing church music, and she occasionally serves as a consultant for the OCA Diocese of Mexico, helping to notate music in Spanish. In her spare time, Anna sings with various community choirs, and especially loves singing with her family.
A welcome BBQ, prayer, and an opening session will launch the Practicum at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 20. The Practicum will conclude on Friday, July 24, with a festive lunch. Participants can plan on leaving Santa Rosa around 1 p.m. to take early evening flights from local airports, including Santa Rosa (STS), Oakland, or San Francisco.
Santa Rosa: Just 55 miles north of San Francisco, in the urban heart of wine country, you’ll find Santa Rosa: a city with a cool vibe and vibrant culture ready and waiting to be explored. Santa Rosa is the happening hub for all there is to see, do, eat, drink, hike, bike and explore in Sonoma County. Visitors will find it’s easy and convenient to arrive or depart from Santa Rosa with airline service provided by major carriers including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and seasonal provider Sun Country Airlines. Major carriers offer daily non-stop flights to and from the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS). Additionally, Santa Rosa is also just 68 miles north of two major Bay Area airports, San Francisco International (SFO) and Oakland International (OAK). More information: https://www.visitsantarosa.com/getting-here-and-trip-ideas
Room blocks have been secured at Oxford Suites at the rate of $147/night.
The Diocese of the West is the geographical district of the Orthodox Church in America consisting of the Western United States. The diocese has active parishes in Montana, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii. San Francisco is home to the diocese’s cathedral, Holy Trinity, as well as the Chancery offices. The diocese is led by His Grace Vasily, Bishop of San Francisco and the West.
