The grant from Cultural Vistas supports virtual collaborations with partners in Russia to promote peace and understanding through music, and help rebuild a Russian-American conversation.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Yale Russian Chorus Alumni Association (YRCAA) has received a grant from Cultural Vistas, a nonprofit cultural exchange organization, to pursue online musical collaboration with like-minded musical groups in Russia. The grant will support joint online concerts and workshops, which will be streamed to audiences around the world.
The grant is part of Cultural Vistas' Rebuilding a Russian-American Conversation (RARAC) program. RARAC is a small grants public diplomacy program administered by Cultural Vistas that aims to build connections between American organizations and Russian communities to share culture, pursue common opportunities in a collaborative manner, and address common global challenges. Dr. Ben Rifkin, the President of the YRCAA, said: "This grant will help us pursue our mission, to promote intercultural understanding through the music we sing."
The first event under the auspices of the grant was virtual participation in the Men's Chorus Festival in Krasnoyarsk. The YRCAA performed due diligence to make sure that the event was international and dedicated to peace and understanding. The YRCAA's video recording of Akh ty, step' shirokaya (O You Wide Steppe) was played at the final gala concert and received a standing ovation. Alexander Tsalyuk, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Moscow Male Jewish Cappella, said: "The language that we use, culture and music, is universal and understandable by all people of good will. Culture, music and word are the best ambassadors of peace."
The YRCAA will be collaborating with Anton Viskov, a noted choral conductor, composer, and co-organizer of the festival in Krasnoyarsk. Mr. Viskov will lead an online workshop on Orthodox sacred music in the modern era. Stephan Sveshnikov, YRCAA conductor and Board member, said: "It's a great honor for us to collaborate with contemporary Russian composer Anton Viskov, who has not only achieved a beautiful, original, and brilliant new synthesis in his choral compositions, but tirelessly champions the cause of choral music as a transcendent form of art that can unite singers and audiences everywhere."
The YRCAA will livestream performances by the Yale Russian Chorus and participating partners. These will be streamed to the YRCAA's large and growing YouTube audience around the world.
Dr. Lewis Johnson, principal investigator for the project, said: "Shared love of music breaks down barriers and helps Russians and Americans overcome misconceptions about each other. The connections that we are building now are important and will provide a foundation for better relations between our peoples in the future."
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ABOUT THE YALE RUSSIAN CHORUS AND THE YRC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Established in 1953 by Denis Mickiewicz, the Yale Russian Chorus is the oldest singing group in the New World dedicated to the choral music of Eastern Europe. It has toured in Europe over 20 times. The YRC Alumni Association is a not-for-profit organization that supports the YRC's activities, organizes virtual choruses, concerts, tours, and workshops, and helps sustain the Yale Russian Chorus tradition of choral excellence and cultural exchange.
ABOUT CULTURAL VISTAS
Founded in 1963, Cultural Vistas is a nonprofit exchange organization promoting global understanding and collaboration among individuals and institutions. It develops international professional experiences that create more informed, skilled, and engaged citizens. Its programs empower people to drive positive change in themselves, their organizations, and society.
Video: https://youtu.be/YpfhlW2K6nI
Media Contact
Lewis Johnson, YRC Alumni Association, (310) 804 1940, [email protected]
SOURCE YRC Alumni Association
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