The Russian Festival Choir grew out of the Boston Russian Chorus as a result of the first International Rachmaninoff Festival of Russian Music, held in Boston in June, 2010 under Irina Shachneva’s artistic direction.
The festival itself was the brainchild of a small group of women who shared Irina’s energy and passion for Russian music, including Boston Russian Chorus manager Olga Melko, Elizabeth Ledkovsky (Chairperson of the Eastern American Diocesan Music Committee of the Russia Orthodox Church Outside Russia) and Elisabeth Olhovsky (née Shohov) of beloved memory. Olga France is an assistant conductor, dedicated musician, an alumni of Moscow Pedagogical Institute.
An amateur ensemble, its membership was created as an invitation–only group, to which only the most dedicated , talented, and experienced church singers were recruited from Russian Orthodox parishes throughout North America (representing many areas including New York, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Montreal). The inaugural festival also featured notable guests from Moscow: the male choir Blagovest, led by Lev Pankratov, a prominent choirmaster who is honored as a Designated National Artist of Russia. There was about 100 singers in the first Festival Choir.
After a small number of rehearsals, the Festival Choir delivered an inspired performance of a difficult program featuring Rachmaninoff’s sacred works as well as Russian folk music. Although the members of the ensemble vary widely in terms of musical and vocal education and personal background, their shared love of and dedication to the Russian Orthodox Church, the motherland, and Russian music unified them all into one resounding voice!
The Festival Choir’s performance in Moscow at the International Choir festival honoring the Pokrov Cathedral’s jubilee is a huge honor for us, and we are especially grateful to the Fund For Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, whose sponsorship of our trip made the participation of many students and young singers possible.