The Illinois Orthodox Choir

The Beginning

In 2015, Zhanna fulfilled one of her goals by founding a Christian choir dedicated to the performance of Orthodox Christian Music, and The Illinois Orthodox Choir was born.

Group of nine people standing in front of an ornate religious altar with icons and a central mural of Jesus Christ, inside a church.

This remarkable choir of dedicated local singers has performed under her direction in a variety of venues and community organizations.

In 2021, their first CD was produced and included some of the works by Abbess Katherine Weston being performed for the very first time.

Four men standing in a church choir, singing with music stands in front of them, with religious icons on the wall behind them.

The Illinois Orthodox Choir offers performances that reflect the depth and beauty of the Orthodox hymnody. Drawing from a wide range of styles, the choir sings traditional Slavic and Byzantine chants alongside works by contemporary American Orthodox composers. Through this diverse repertoire, the choir seeks to preserve timeless musical traditions while also giving voice to modern expressions of Orthodox faith, inviting listeners into a prayerful and reverent experience shaped by centuries of devotion.

A group of eight people, five women and three men, standing and singing in a church. They are positioned behind music stands with sheet music. The church has wooden furnishings, candles, and decorative rugs on the floor.

Through careful attention to stylistic interpretation and musical excellence, the Illinois Orthodox Choir creates an atmosphere of reverence that honors the rich traditions of the Orthodox sacred music.

The Choir offers outreach concerts to churches throughout the Midwest, as well as to local community events and nursing homes, sharing the beauty of Orthodox sacred music with a wide and diverse audience.

A group of six people standing in a choir, singing in a church, with music stands holding sheet music in front of them.

A group of nine people posing in front of an ornate church altar with religious icons and artwork, decorated with flowers.

Group of people singing choir in a church, led by a woman conductor. The church interior has religious icons, candles, and an altar.

Group photo of people standing inside a church with religious icons and wooden decor, posing for a picture.

Choral group singing in a church with religious icons and candles in the background.

Four men dressed in dark clothing, holding red folders, appear to be singing or participating in a choir inside a church with religious icons in the background.

Group of nine people standing in a church in front of a religious iconostasis with icons and a priest dressed in ceremonial robes in the center. The church has a golden semi-dome ceiling and religious statues, with wood and gold decor.

Group of people standing in a church, holding sheet music, surrounded by religious icons and a chandelier.

Group of ten people standing in front of religious icons inside a church or chapel, with a golden dome: men and women dressed in black, some wearing crosses, one woman dressed as a nun with a veil, and two microphones on either side.

A group of five men singing in a church choir, standing in front of religious icons and hymn stands.

Group of five women singing in a church with religious icons and candles in the background.

Group of men standing in a church choir, singing with music stands in front of them, with religious icons on the wall behind.