Diplomats of Song
The Yale University International Chorus
The Yale University International Chorus is a choral group dedicated to the performance and celebration of Eastern European musical traditions. Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as "Diplomats of Song," the Chorus was founded in 1953 at the height of the Cold War to bridge political and cultural divides through music. Since then, it has won prizes at international choral festivals, released 20 albums, performed in major concert halls, serenaded presidents, and completed more than 20 European tours.
The YUIC toured in Summer 2025, performing in Tbilisi, Yerevan, Rustavi, and other locations in Georgia and Armenia. The YUIC will be returning to Europe in Summer 2027 to tour in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Stay tuned for concert schedules!
Composed of current students and Yale alumni, The YUIC represents the evolution of the Yale Russian Chorus, the choral group founded by Latvian director Denis Mickiewicz. Its members elected to adopt the name Yale University International Chorus in order to reflect its expanding repertoire, international community, and mission of building bridges through music. Every concert includes music of the host country, American music, and selected music from other countries. Russian-language music will not play a major role unless the group tours Russia, sometime after the end of the Russo-Ukrainian War.
The YUIC is supported by the Yale Russian Chorus Alumni Association.
Guiding Principles
Of the YRCAA and YUIC
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
