Seventy choir members from Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia attended the First International Workshop of the Sarva Dharma Choir, led by conductors Maria Quoos and Ewa Zarów, in Palanga, Lithuania, from 19th to 28th September 2016. The programme commenced with a three-day national meeting of the SSIO of Lithuania, where Ms. Marianne Meyer, director of the ESSE, delivered an uplifting speech. On the second day of the national meeting, the choir presented a beautiful performance. The choir workshop started in earnest on 22nd September 2016 and included music classes, vocal exercises, and singing, as well as rejuvenating walks to the seaside. Each morning was filled with devotional singing, followed by classes on music theory. The choir also presented two moving performances to the public. The first was at the Vilius Gaigalaitis Care Home, touching many hearts, and the second was at the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, where the choir sang Christian songs and songs from other faiths, including Islam. Franciscan monks at the Roman Catholic church participated joyfully in the singing and dancing.

jarek-karwowski-ssopoland_lithuania_sarvadharmachoir_workshop_2016-08-28-d jarek-karwowski-ssopoland_lithuania_sarvadharmachoir_workshop_2016-08-28-e2 jarek-karwowski-ssopoland_lithuania_sarvadharmachoir_workshop_2016-08-28-f jarek-karwowski-ssopoland_lithuania_sarvadharmachoir_workshop_2016-08-28-c