Providence College Touring Choir in front of the Rachmaninov statue, Moscow State Conservatory

Providence, RI--Russian history and culture came alive for the Providence College Touring Choir in the beautiful imperial cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow during its trip at the end of the 2007 spring semester. 

The Touring Choir was invited to perform by the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography in Russia in collaboration with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the American Embassy in Moscow. The choir was one of several chosen to participate in observance of the 200th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Russia and the U.S.

This was the third trip abroad for the choir and its first since 2004. The choir is comprised of members of the Concert Chorale and I Cantori, the College's premier vocal ensembles.

"This trip was much more of a cultural experience than other trips we have taken," said choir director Dr. Michele M. Holt, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities/music education.

The PC contingent was comprised of 47 students, 2 faculty members, and 17 parents and friends. It traveled from May 22-31. While in Russia, the group was joined by two translators/guides, Slava and Marina, who really "made the trip what it was," said Holt.

She noted that Slava was "a brilliant historian," who told the group stories of the Imperial Family, Russia's Communist Party and its effect on the Russian people, and their struggle to become a free country. The students demonstrated their Development of Western Civilization background with questions that often engaged their guides in profound discussion, said Holt.

"It was truly an awesome educational experience, tying together the realities of our two countries and their struggles through war and politics as told through the eyes of a Russian citizen," she said.

Rachmaninov Hall at the Moscow State Conservatory

Music is what brought the choir to Russia and the performances were the highlight of the trip, according to Holt and choir members. Two performances were shared with top Russian choirs.

In St. Petersburg, the Touring Choir shared a concert with the St. Petersburg Conservatory Choir. The conservatory choir performed traditional Russian sacred and secular material. In Moscow, the choir performed with the world-renowned Moscow Conservatory Choir, directed by Maestro Boris Tevlin. The Moscow Conservatory Choir is known as the finest academic choir in all of Russia. Holt said the choir gave a flawless performance, during which it performed an American spiritual for the PC choral students. The concert was attended by the minister of culture.

"If there was one image that stands out over the hundreds I tried to capture, it would be the faces of the Moscow Conservatory Choir members as they performed . . . faces that were engaged not only with the audience but with the music, and that were filled with an intensity and a joy I have rarely seen in performers my age. For me, those faces were Russia," said Touring Choir member Deanna Cioppa of the College's class of 2007.

During their performances, the PC students sang Russian sacred music and folk songs in Russian as well as music by American choral composers which included rousing spirituals.

"The best part of the trip was being able to exchange cultural traditions through music," said choir member Andrew Arcello, a member of Providence College's class of 2010. "I cannot think of a better way for two great nations to come together than through the gift of music."

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