2024 Christmas Concert

Great Music Under a Byzantine Dome’s season opened in December 2024 with the Cathedral Choir, Youth Choir, and Orchestra’s 48th annual iteration of their traditional Christmas Concert, “The Sounds of Christmas.”

The concert was performed in memory of the Dino Anagnost Artist-in-Residence, Dr. John Baboukis, who passed away unexpectedly a few weeks prior to the concert. The centerpiece of the concert was his final composition, the Megalynarion of Christmas. The program included the choir’s trademark mix of Western and Greek music of the season, including the Willcocks “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” Frank Desby’s “I Gennisi Su,” Hilary Baboukis’s new arrangement of “Once in Royal David’s City” (featuring the Cathedral Youth Choir and youth soloists), Paul Maritsas’ “Ti Nixta Afti,” and the traditional Christmas medley to close out the concert.

The concert was under the baton of Maestro Costas Tsourakis, the Cathedral’s Director of Music. The concert particularly highlighted the work of the Cathedral Youth Choir, which was started by Maestro Tsourakis in September 2021 to teach the Cathedral youth community about music and the hymns of the church. Associate Conductor Hilary Baboukis also took the podium, and her orchestrations were featured for several pieces. The annual Christmas Concert at Holy Trinity Cathedral is a staple in the New York holiday concert scene, continuing a tradition that began with the first Cathedral Christmas Concert under the baton of the late maestro Dr. Dino Anagnost in 1976.

A “virtual concert” recording of “The Sounds of Christmas” was also made available to ticket-purchasers and was enjoyed by viewers around the world.

2025 Cabaret

Members of the Cathedral Choir and Youth Choir serenaded the audience with popular songs, Broadway showtunes, Greek songs, opera and more, including music by Berlin, Bernstein, Bizet, Gershwin, Puccini, Theodorakis, and many other luminaries. The evening was hosted by Maestro Costas Tsourakis and included food, drinks, and a 50/50 raffle, all in support of the Cathedral Youth Choir’s need for new chairs in the choir loft. The evening was an incredible success!

2025 Lenten Concert

The Cathedral Choir continued its season with its annual Lenten concert, “The Sounds of Lent,” on Saturday, April 5th, 2025. As has become tradition, the concert opened with Benedict Sheehan’s extraordinary Evening Prayer, excerpted from his Vespers (which had its world premiere at the Cathedral in November 2022!) The program also featured Hilary Baboukis’ “Shall We Gather By The River,” and new orchestrations of the monastic chant “Mirovlitissa Parthene” and Paul Maritsas’ “Osi is Xriston.” The “Simeron Kremate” of former Dino Anagnost Artist-in-Residence Dawn Helene also made its triumphant comeback to the Cathedral stage. In accordance with tradition, the concert closed with the congregational singing of portions of Dino Anagnost’s arrangements of the Lamentations and the Manos Kalomiris ‘Τῇ ὑπερμάχῳ (from his symphony Levendia).

The concert was under the baton of Maestro Costas Tsourakis, the Cathedral’s Director of Music, with an appearance at the podium by Hilary Baboukis, the Associate Director. It featured both the Cathedral Youth Choir and the Cathedral Orchestra. The concert was also made available through YouTube for virtual attendees, and was viewed by audiences around the world, to wide acclaim.

The Music of Kouyioumtzis and Xarhakos

The Archdiocesan Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Maestro Costas Tsourakis, presented an evening of favorite songs by Stavros Kouyioumtzis, known for his deeply resonant songs that explore themes of love, poverty, and dignity, and Stavros Xarhakos, a renowned composer and conductor who has written music for theater, cinema, and popular music. Sung by members of the Choir and Youth Choir and joined by the Archdiocesan Cathedral Greek Orchestra, the program featured soloists from the choir and guest singers. However, the undisputed stars of the evening were the Cathedral Youth Choir, who captivated and charmed the audience with their performances. The evening’s proceeds benefited the Cathedral’s music ministry, and the evening was considered a success by all!