Dear friends, parents, students, and members of our beloved community,
On January 3, 2026, our Russian School LA Performing Arts Center was filled with the profound and uplifting sounds of the renowned Yale Russian Chorus. This special concert, featuring spiritual and festive music from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, and beyond, brought together our students, families, and the wider Russian-speaking community in Los Angeles for an inspiring afternoon of song, faith, and cultural connection.
The event opened with warm words of welcome from Father Janis Terauds, Rector Emeritus and Protopresbyter of the Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Cathedral. His heartfelt address set a tone of gratitude and spiritual unity, reflecting the deep Orthodox Christian values that bind our school and parish community. We also extend our sincere thanks to Ivan Podvalov, representative of the Los Angeles Congress of Russian Americans (CRA), whose presence and support underscored the importance of preserving Russian culture and heritage in our city.
Now in its 72nd season, the Yale Russian Chorus—a tenor-bass a cappella ensemble of talented Yale University undergraduates—delivered a captivating program of sacred chants, folk melodies, and cherished compositions by masters such as Tchaikovsky, Bortnyansky, Kedrov, and Chesnokov. The performance resonated deeply with the Orthodox traditions we nurture at our school, reminding everyone of the timeless power of music to foster peace, understanding, and unity across generations and continents.
Meet the Singers Who Brought the Music to Life
We are proud to highlight the dedicated members of the Yale Russian Chorus who graced our stage:
Tenor 1
- Audrey Kamena
- Gabriel Mesa
- Abraham Payne
Tenor 2
- Dennis Jin
- Jonas Loesel
- Mason Mifflin
- Nahom Seyoum
- Gryffin Wilkins-Plumley
- Logan Ye
Baritone
- Daniel Fried
- Tristan Swangstu
- Kenneth Wang
Bass
- Brian Barger
- NeNe McDonald
These young musicians continued the legacy established in 1953 by Denis Mickiewicz. Their historic achievements—including being the first American group to visit the USSR privately in 1958 and performing for leaders such as Charles de Gaulle, Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, and Bill Clinton—highlight their role as ambassadors of Slavic musical heritage.
The concert concluded with a warm reception, where attendees shared fellowship, reflections, and appreciation for the shared experience. For our parochial school—affiliated with the Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Cathedral—this event perfectly aligned with our mission: to educate children in Christian spiritual and moral principles while preserving the Russian language, culture, and traditions through Saturday classes in language, grammar, music (including Russian singing), Biblical studies, and more.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Yale Russian Chorus for choosing our venue and sharing their extraordinary talent with us. We are equally grateful to Father Janis Terauds and Ivan Podvalov for their gracious participation. Moments like these strengthen our community and inspire the next generation.
If you missed this unforgettable performance, we encourage you to stay connected for future events—visit our website or contact us at (213) 878-1331 or [email protected] for updates on upcoming concerts, mini-performances by our students, and other cultural gatherings.
With love, gratitude, and blessings, The Russian School of Los Angeles Team Russian Orthodox Parish School https://www.russianorthodoxschool.com/