Diplomats of Song
The Yale University International Chorus
The YUIC will be returning to Europe in Summer 2027 to tour in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. A songbook for the tour is available here. Stay tuned for performance details!
The Yale University International Chorus is a choral group dedicated to the performance and celebration of Eastern European musical traditions. It is composed of Yale University students, alumni, friends, and family, and its singers come from all generations and walks of life. the YUIC is dedicated to building bridges through music. Every concert includes music of the host country, American music, and selected music from other countries. Through these performances, the YUIC promotes international community and cultural exchange.
The YUIC toured in Summer 2025, performing in Georgia and Armenia. They sang at remarkable locations such as the National Library of Georgia in Tbilisi, the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, and the Haghpat Monastery. The Chorus performed with the Georgian Rustavi Ensemble as well as the Armenian Saghmosergu Men's Chorus for Spiritual Music, further strengthening its ties with international choral groups.
The tour was organized in collaboration with John Graham, a noted ethnomusicologist and tour operator.
The YRC in Red Square during their first tour of the Soviet Union, 1958.
The YUIC at an overlook of Mount Ararat, in Armenia, 2025.
The YUIC builds upon the musical tradition of the Yale Russian Chorus, the choral group created by Latvian director Denis Mickiewicz. Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as "Diplomats of Song," the YRC 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.
While Russian-language music remains in the YUIC repertoire, current performances focus on the music of other Slavic countries and other nations of Eastern Europe. We look forward to a just and peaceful end to the Russo-Ukrainian War, at which time we will reevaluate the future role of Russian-language music in our concerts.
The YUIC is organized and supported by the YRC Alumni Association.