The Yale Russian Chorus
Alumni Association
The Yale Russian Chorus was founded in 1953 by Denis Mickiewicz, a student at the Yale Music School, and George Litton, president of the Yale Russian Club, at the height of the Cold War. With its unique repertoire of religious and secular music from Russia and neighboring lands, the Chorus quickly established a prominent place in the pantheon of Yale singing groups. It thrives to this day, transcending dramatic changes in the political climate.
Throughout its 70 year history, the Chorus has fostered international understanding. It pioneered the first person-to-person cultural exchanges, singing informal concerts on Moscow street corners in 1958. The Chorus has won prizes at international choral competitions, serenaded government leaders at international functions and recorded extensively. Chorus alumni feel a strong bond of loyalty and comradeship. Through their own organization, the YRC Alumni Association, Chorus alumni present concerts throughout United States.
Guiding Principles
Of the YRCAA
Who We Are
A community bound together by song, comprising undergraduate students, graduate students, community members, and graduates of Yale University, we perform and celebrate the choral tradition established by Denis Mickiewicz in 1953, building and expanding upon that legacy while broadening our repertoire and cultural outreach on campus, throughout the USA, and internationally.
Our Purpose
The promotion of international understanding and cultural exchange through musical performances and citizen-to-citizen diplomacy.
Our Values
Independence, an apolitical stance, musical excellence, and authenticity in performance.
Our Mission
Aided by support from its alumni, the on-campus chorus remains vibrant and financially stable. At Yale, throughout the United States, and internationally an active presence is maintained through concerts and other forms of outreach. Alumni collaborate frequently with the on-campus group, fostering a family that spans decades. Alumni also organize their own events and outreach efforts, including singers from the on-campus chorus whenever feasible.
Support the Alumni Association
“My enthusiasm for the truly heroic work that the Yale Russian Chorus is doing is unbounded. The only tragedy is that we don’t have ten or fifty or one hundred choruses such as yours.”
- Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey
“For 50 years you have linked Russia and the United States, during which time you made 16 tours to the USSR. Thank you for this remarkable achievement, for your work in propagating the wonderful choral music of Russia and for your idea of achieving understanding between our peoples through music.”
- Mstislav Rostropovich
The YRC Alumni Association continues its long-standing dedication to preserving and presenting Eastern European choral tradition to American and world audiences, in particular through the arrangements made by our founding conductor, Denis Mickiewicz. The YRC Alumni Association is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible and assist us in our mission of cultural diplomacy, needed now as much as ever. We thank all our generous supporters.
“‘Sto let‘ dear Denis; may you and the Chorus live to be a hundred.“
-William Sloane Coffin
