Russian ensemble, Radford choirs to present choral event

The Russian-American Choral Festival will present Vita in Canto (Life in Song), a 25-voice women’s ensemble from the Ural State University of Economics in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in a free public concert at Radford University on Sunday, April 7.

Conducted by Yuly Kopkin, the ensemble will take the stage at 6 p.m. in the Performance Hall in the Covington Center for the Performing Arts. Vita in Canto will share the program with Radford University’s choral ensembles, including Chorale, the Madrigal Singers and the University Men. The program will include a diverse mix of European and Russian classical music contrasted with African-American gospel and spiritual arrangements.

The Russian-American Choral Festival Concert is a continuation of a cultural bridge between Radford University and Russian choirs that has been in place for more than a decade. RU hosted Russian choirs and conductors for cultural exchanges and performances in 1999, 2003 and 2009. Radford choirs performed in Russia in 2000, 2005 and 2012.

During their visit to the Radford, Kopkin and the members of Vita in Canto will be hosted by student members of the RU choral organizations and other members of the music community. The Russians will attend the RU International Guitar Festival and the Radford High School performance of the musical "The Wizard of Oz." In addition to touring the RU campus and new College of Business and Economics building, the Russian and American students will share cultural experiences during several formal and informal receptions and social events.

For more information, contact RU Director of Choral Activities David O. Castonguay at dcastong@radford.edu.

For more information about Radford University, visit www.radford.edu