Church Music Faculty Holds Entrance Exams

From July 13 to 15, 2025, the Moscow Theological Academy held entrance exams for applicants to the Faculty of Church Music. The program is part of the "Training Program for Ministers and Religious Personnel of Religious Organizations" with a profile in "Church Music" and the qualifications of "Church Choir Director. Conductor. Choirmaster. Teacher".

Those wishing to receive a choir director education within the Academy's walls came from various dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church, Russia, and neighboring countries. Some applicants had a secondary professional musical education. The competition rate was 1.7 applicants per place.

During the admissions campaign, applicants were interviewed by the faculty dean, Igumen Lazar (Gnatyv). The interview focused on the applicants' spiritual and moral qualities, the degree of their church involvement, their musical aptitude, their overall level of professional training, and other factors.

In the exams, held by four subcommittees made up of highly qualified faculty members, applicants demonstrated their artistic abilities in conducting, church singing, vocal skills, and voice control. They were also tested on their theoretical and practical knowledge of solfeggio and music theory, piano proficiency, and skills in reading choral scores, among other things. The Fundamentals of Faith exam tested applicants' knowledge of prayers, their meaningful recitation, and their knowledge of liturgics, church rubrics, and Church history, as well as their proficiency in Church Slavonic.

After the entrance exams concluded, the commission made a decision on the enrollment for the upcoming 2025/2026 academic year. On July 15, the Dean of the Faculty of Church Music, Igumen Lazar (Gnatyv), announced the list of those accepted to the faculty at the MThA's Great Hall.

The following were enrolled on the first-year course:
Авраменко Анастасия Алексеевна.
Аксенова Анна Владимировна.
Арутюнова Ануш Владимировна.
Барбаш Емилия Андреевна.
Барняк Елизавета Евгеньевна.
Вакуленко Екатерина Владимировна
Вакуленко Татьяна Владимировна.
Горохова Анна Сергеевна.
Гощук Мария Ивановна.
Королева Мария Витальевна.
Менькова Татьяна Даниловна.
Мосолова Анна Михайловна.
Павлова Мелания Алексеевна.
Тумаева Анна Владимировна.
Хланта Варвара Кирилловна.
Шугаева Евфросиния Ильинична

The following were accepted as candidates pending a vacancy:
Ваничева Анастасия Анатольевна.
Хан Нина Романовна.

MThA Press Office