The Kliros
Companion
About
Dr. Katya Ermolaeva, the musician and editor behind The Kliros Companion, began her career as a Russian Orthodox Liturgical Choral Director at the age of 16 at Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church in Trenton, NJ. She received her certificate in Russian Orthodox Liturgical Choral Conducting from Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, NY).
Over her twenty-five-year career, Dr. Ermolaeva has served as the musical director for parishes in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Orthodox Church of America both in the U.S. and the U.K.
Since 2022, Dr. Ermolaeva has been the musical director at the Mother of God, Joy of All Who Sorrow, Orthodox Church in Princeton, NJ, where she is developing the uncommon practice of Orthodox congregational singing.
Orthodox Liturgical Choral Directing Experience
2022-present
Director of Music
Mother of God, Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Church (Princeton, NJ)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church of America (OCA)
Diocese: New York & New Jersey
Language of Worship: English
2013-2016
Director of Music
St. Kentigern of Glasgow Russian Orthodox Church (Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.)
Jurisdiction: Moscow Patriarchate
Diocese: Surozh
Language of Worship: Old Church Slavonic
2012
Director of Music
St. Mary Magdalen Orthodox Church (New York, NY)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church of America
Diocese: New York & New Jersey
Language of Worship: English
2007-2012
Substitute Director of Music
St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Russian Orthodox Church (Rocky Hill, NJ)
Jurisdiction: Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR)
Diocese: Eastern America and New York
Language of Worship: English
1996-2007
Director of Music
Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church (Trenton, NJ)
Jurisdiction: Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR)*
Diocese: Eastern America and New York*
Language of Worship: Old Church Slavonic
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* In 2007, the Holy Assumption left ROCOR and joined the (non-canonical) Russian True-Orthodox Church (Russkaia istinno-pravoslavnaia tserkov', RIPTs), which it continues to be a part of to date.