Church Choir
& Chanters
Sacred music is an integral part of Orthodox worship, enriching the prayer and spiritual life of the Church. At Lazarica, our choir and chanters help lead the faithful in prayer through the singing and chanting of hymns during Divine Liturgy, feast days, and other services.
The Orthodox Church traditionally worships without musical instruments, relying on the human voice to express the beauty and reverence of its liturgical tradition.
Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
Ps 47, 6
A Rich Musical Heritage
The origins of the Lazarica Church Choir date back to 1961, when a singing group was formed under the leadership of Dušan Petrović and Stefan Verizan.
In 1992, a four-part choir was formally established through the initiative of Fr. Rade Radan and Professor Slobodan Živković, a respected classical music and piano educator.
Since its beginnings, the choir has served as a spiritual bridge between the Serbian community and the Holy Orthodox Church, bringing generations together through sacred music.
Over the years, the choir has been guided by dedicated conductors, including Marija Ćuk (1994), Tijana Miljovska (1995–2002) and Nenad Jakovljević (2002–2004).
Our Conductor
Musical Leadership
Since 2004, the choir has been led by Mrs Dragana Jovanović-Milanović, an accomplished professor of music and choirmaster.
Under her guidance, the choir has continued to develop its musical excellence while nurturing the talents of its predominantly amateur singers. Through their dedication to sacred music, members also deepen their understanding of Orthodox teachings and strengthen their connection to the Church.
Beyond Our Parish
The Lazarica Church Choir has shared its music across Australia and internationally, performing in Serbian, Greek, and Russian Orthodox churches, as well as at cultural, charitable, and community events.
A few notable performances and milestones:
2026 – Sydney Opera House: Performed at the Russian Orthodox Male Choir of Australia's ROMCA) Anniversary X concert, alongside other Orthodox choirs, celebrating a shared tradition of sacred music.
2004 – Pilgrimage to Serbia: Undertook its first pilgrimage to Serbia and joined the Federation of Serbian Choirs.
2003 – Sydney Opera House: Performed at the launch of an anti-racism campaign.
Australian and international performances: Shared its music across Australia, including Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and regional communities, as well as in Serbia, New Zealand and Singapore.
A Living Tradition of Sacred Music
The choir rehearses weekly and sings regularly at Sunday services and feast days, preparing special recitals for significant occasions in the Church calendar. A highlight is the annual “Heavenly Sounds on Earth” concert, held on 26 November in honour of the choir's Patron Saint, St John Chrysostom.
Through its music and faithful service, the Lazarica Church Choir continues to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of our Parish and the wider Serbian Orthodox community.
Church Chanters
Chanters play an important role in Orthodox worship, supporting the clergy by chanting hymns, prayers and liturgical responses during Church services.
Together with the choir and readers, they help preserve the rich tradition of Orthodox liturgical singing and encourage the prayerful participation of the congregation.
Love to Sing?
Interested in joining the Lazarica Church Choir? Whether you have choir experience or simply a love of singing, we welcome enquiries from those wishing to contribute to the musical and spiritual life of our Parish.