Savor the Joy and Richness of 70 years of Slavic Music at Yale

The Yale Russian Chorus and Alumni welcome friends old and new for a mesmerizing evening celebrating the rich heritage of Slavic music at Yale! Immerse yourself in the tenor/bass choral music that has captivated audiences worldwide for seven decades. Savor the reverberating power of 80+ voices in the vaulted grandeur of Yale’s Woolsey Hall. Find joy in an enthralling Ukrainian Cossack song, clap and stomp to Russian folk favorites, be intrigued by esoteric and engaging Georgian hymnody, and thrill to magnificent choral works from Tchaikovsky and Bortniansky.
Tickets are free at the door and may be reserved at eventbrite.com.
Please see the Yale Russian chorus on Facebook and youtube. or visit YRCAA.org.

The Yale Russian Chorus Alumni Association exists to foster intercultural goodwill and peace. The YRCAA cherishes its deep kinship with the people of Ukraine.

In its many visits to Ukraine, the YRC has had the great privilege of visiting the Kyivo-Pechersk - the Monastery of the Caves many times. The monastery has been a seat of the Orthodox faith for about 1000 years. Very sadly, those golden domes are now regularly seen on news reports. In 1977 the chorus toured the Monastery. Under the Soviets, Kyivo-Pechersk was considered a museum, and religious expressions were disallowed. The chorus sang in the underground chapel among the catacomb crypts. They sang "Blazhen Muzh" (Blessed is the Man). This is an ancient chant from the Psalms which originated at the monastery early in the last millennium. They bravely sang knowing there could be consequences for their defiant act. The guard shouted "forbidden" as they sang. By the time the chorus finished, the guard was moved to tears. In 1990 the monastery had just been returned to the monks, who had resumed their monastic duties. The chorus again sang "Blazhen Muzh." Upon hearing the chorus sing, a monk stated, "That is the way it should be sung."

The Yale Russian Chorus began in 1953 with the invitation by George Litton, head of the Yale Russian Club to Denis Mickiewics, a Yale music student, to informally share some folk songs. In 1958, the Chorus was the first music group from the United States to tour in the USSR. (Please see image of the chorus deplaning in Moscow). The YRC has toured in eastern Europe nineteen times over the last seven decades. They have sung in Carnegie Hall five times. They were invited to sing at the White House. On many occasions, they have sung with various opera companies and orchestras and have toured many times throughout the United States. The YRC has been heard on the PBS radio show, "Prairie Home Companion" The YRC is the oldest Slavic singing group in the United States.

The mission of the Yale Russian Chorus Alumni Association is to promote intercultural understanding through the music we sing: music of Russia, Ukraine, Central and Eastern Europe, and elsewhere in Eurasia, as well as from America. Devoted to intercultural understanding and peace, we will continue to sing music of these regions to promote peace worldwide and foster global understanding.

The chorus would be very pleased if you could be part of this celebration.