The Chant Stand

The Chant Stand was born from a 60-year legacy.

Sam Atalis' grandfather, Sam Anastasios Atalis, was born in Malona, Rhodes, Greece in 1924 and immigrated to Wichita Falls, Texas in 1947. Trained as a Byzantine chanter at the age of 16 while still in Greece, he spent the rest of his life faithfully serving his parish community at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, standing at the chant stand for nearly 60 years. He passed away on July 28, 2006, leaving behind a legacy of devotion, humility, and praise.

That inspiration led Sam to the chant stand at Saint Mark Greek Orthodox Church in Boca Raton, where he began learning, grew in confidence, and today leads Matins. Along the way, he wanted to bring young aspiring chanters together so they could get real exposure to Byzantine chant in a workshop-style format. He and Andreas Stamatakis set out to build it.

They co-founded The Chant Stand with a single conviction: this sacred art belongs to every generation. They built the gathering they wished had existed for them, a space where young Orthodox Christians could come together to learn, to worship, and to chant with confidence.

The Chant Stand launched its flagship initiative, the Young Aspiring Chanters () Conference, in Boca Raton, Florida in March 2026. Young chanters came from across the country to worship, learn, and chant together, leaving inspired to bring this art form back to their parishes and to further their education. Next stop: Dallas.