Russian Girls’ Choir and Young Men’s Quartet

First Presbyterian Church Port Townsend, WA: October 29, 2008

An award-winning choir of young Russian singers will appear in concert on Wednesday, October 29, 7PM, at Port Townsend's First Presbyterian Church. The Vladimir Girls' Choir and Young Men's Quartet will present a program of Russian classical and folk songs, plus a touch of American jazz and rock and roll. The Port Townsend Youth Chorus, directed by Leslie Lewis, will also take part in the program. The concert is supported in part by the Port Townsend Arts Commission, Rotary Clubs of the Port Townsend area, and the Arts Council of First Presbyterian Church.

Port Townsend is the first stop for the young Russians on their two-week tour of cities and towns in the Puget Sound area. The itinerary includes Port Townsend, Sequim, Whidbey Island, Seattle, Bellevue, Puyallup and Tacoma. Throughout the tour, they will stay in homes, visit schools, perform jointly with local youth choirs and give public concerts.

Vladimir is one of Russia's oldest cities, standing on the banks of the Klyazma River, 180 kilometers (115 miles) northeast of Moscow. The city was founded in either 990 or 1108, depending on which historians you consult, and for the better part of two centuries (from 1157 to the mid 1300s) was the capital of ancient Rus. With a current population of around 315,000, Vladimir is considered the center of the Golden Ring, a region of historic communities which have played a significant role in Russian history and are rich in arts and culture.

The Vladimir Girls' Choir and Young Men's Quartet are part of the Choral Music Centre of Vladimir-Suzdal Rus, which began in 1974 with the founding by Professor Eduard Markin of the Vladimir Chamber Choir. Today the Centre consists of not only the adult chamber choir and youth chorus, but a music school, professional symphony orchestra and boys' choir. Although the Girls' Choir and Young Men's Quartet began only in 2001, in 2007 the group won Grand Prize at the International Competition "Rainbow of Stars" in Varna, Bulgaria. About half of the young singers currently study English in school, but none have previously been to the United States.

A donation of $10 is suggested for the concert to help cover the expenses of the tour, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. First Presbyterian Church is located at 1111 Franklin St., in the Uptown area of Port Townsend.

SPONSOR: Port Townsend Arts Commission, Rotary Clubs of the Port Townsend area, and the Arts Council of First Presbyterian Church

Information: PTGuide