Byzantine Music School (NSW)

SYDNEY (NSW) Chanting Program

Open to males and females, the SYDNEY (NSW) division of the Byzantine Music School of Australia (BMSA) is accepting expressions of interest regarding enrolment in 2026.

Classes prepare students to actively participate in Church services and to assist clergymen with the holy sacraments. 

Classes are delivered in English with basic/essential Greek terminology introduced throughout the course.

St Andrew's Theological College, in collaboration with the Byzantine Music School of Australia (BMSA), offers two pathways for learning Byzantine chant, namely:

CERTIFICATE PATHWAY

This Certificate Pathway involves:

1. standard weekly music lessons for beginners on Thursday evenings here in Redfern (2hrs, 6:00-8:00pm), plus
2. an end-of-semester exam

… all leading towards a “Certificate of Byzantine Music” from the Byzantine Music School of Australia (BMSA), under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

Annual Fee in 2026 (unchanged from 2025)

$450 for full fee-paying student

$350 for secondary or full-time tertiary students

$250 for each additional family member 

EFT Direct Deposit or Visa/MasterCard payments are accepted. No student loans are available.

DIPLOMA PATHWAY

This Diploma Pathway involves:

1. standard weekly music lessons (as above), and
2. end-of-semester exam (as above), plus
3. mid-semester exam, plus
4. extra assessment tasks with weekly online learning content (1hr)

… all leading towards the “Diploma of Liturgical Music”, an accredited tertiary course of the Australian University College of Divinity (AUCD) offered through St Andrew’s Theological College.

The 2026 version of the Course Information Sheet, together with descriptions of all eight (8) units of study, is available [here].

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for 2026 will be $440 per unit / per semester … therefore $880 for the year. EFT Direct Deposit or Visa/MasterCard payments are accepted. You may also apply for a FEE-HELP student loan. Terms, conditions and eligibility criteria apply [click here].

The Diploma of Liturgical Music requires completion of a specific application form (available upon request) and proof of citizenship and a driver licence or other government-issued ID card. Further information is requested if a student opts for FEE-HELP which requires a separate online application process handled by the Registrar.

Essential Textbook

Either pathway requires the essential textbook ($39.95), titled Byzantine Ecclesiastical Music, available from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Book Centre (242 Cleveland Street Redfern, ph. 02 9690 6100, bookcentre[AT]greekorthodox.org.au).

Class Sizes

Class sizes are typically up to 10-12 students, at the discretion of the Teacher.

HOW TO APPLY

By 30 January 2026, contact the Registrar (02 9549 3100 or via registrar[AT]sagotc.edu.au) to make your expression of interest about which pathway you would prefer to undertake.

All applicants will be asked to attend an audition by telephone or Zoom at the earliest opportunity during February.

Classes begin the week of 23 February 2026, dates and times to be confirmed.