Foreign Language Press Service

Souvenir Program

First All-Slavic Singing Festival, DECEMBER 9, 1934

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RUSSIA

REPRESENTED BY THE UNITED RUSSIAN CHURCH CHOIRS OF CHICAGO

HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL CAPELLA 1121 North Leavitt Street

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH CHOIR 1700 West 44th Street

STS. PETER AND PAUL CHURCH CHOIR 2400 West 53rd Street

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Russian St. Michael's Church Choir, 1700 West 44th Street, Chicago, III. St. Michael's Church Choir was organized in 1918. Choir gives occasional concerts of popular music for their church and charity benefits. In 1932 the choir participated with great success in the Russian carnival for the benefit of Chicago relief organizations at the Princess Theatre, and in 1933 at the World's Fair Century of Progress under the leadership of its director, J. K. Nazarenko. Members of this volunteer choir are forty young girls and boys, two-thirds American born. The chairman of the choir is M. M. Patzenuk, with the Right Rev. Timon Muliar, Archimandrite, as rector of the church.

History of St. Peter and St. Paul Church Choir, P. 79.

Very Rev. P. N. Semkoff, rector, Ignatius Bihun, director.

Choir of Sts. Peter and Paul Church was organized in 1931 by Ignatius Bihun with the assistance of Rev. P. N. Semkoff, rector. Choir is composed mainly of young girls and boys. They sing of their own free will voluntarily 4for all religious services, for all occasions, national and social concert affairs.

History of the Russian Holy Trinity Cathedral Capella, p. 80

The Russian Holy Trinity Cathedral of Chicago was founded in 1892. The present spiritual head of this well known church is the Most Reverend Leonty, bishop of Chicago diocese, assisted by the Very Reverend Sergius Snegireff, dean of the cathedral.

The Holy Trinity Cathedral Capella Choir has during its long existence gained the well-deserved reputation of being the best trained Russian church choir in this country, with an extensive repertoire of classical, antique and modern Russian Orthodox Christian church music. In existence since the year the Holy Trinity Cathedral congregation was founded, the Capella was reorganized in 1916 by director V. T. Greevsky and the scope 5of its work widened considerably. Included in its repertoire were not only the beautiful prayer-inspiring chants of the Russian church, but also popular Russian melodies of great composers; ancient musical legends of boyar times; the plaintive songs of the steppe, the river, and of the common peasant.

Music-loving American people of this great city and of the surrounding area have, during the past decade, honored the Capella with hearty applause on its many public recitals.

On the present occasion the Capella, for the first time in its history, is appearing together with the other two Russian church choirs of this city, that of St. Michael's Church and of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, as a united choir in honor of this great Slavic concert.

Vladimir T. Greevsky

Director of the Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral Capella of Chicago.

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