MThA Chamber Choir Guest Stars at 4th All-Russian Choral Festival

From April 30 to May 4, 2025, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the IV All-Russian Choral Festival for choir conducting departments of theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church, dedicated to the works of D.S. Bortniansky, took place in the capital of Tatarstan.

During the festival days, competitive auditions and concerts were held, featuring 13 choral ensembles from 13 theological schools across our country. Participants included 10 choirs from the Moscow and St. Petersburg Theological Academies, and the Ekaterinburg, Yaroslavl, Penza, Don, Kazan, Samara, Voronezh, and Smolensk Theological Seminaries, along with 3 vocal ensembles from the Orenburg, Kuzbass, and Tomsk Theological Seminaries.

The festival opened with a solemn prayer service led by Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, co-served by diocesan clergy, at the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery. 

On May 1, the first round of competitive auditions for the festival took place at the S. Saidashov State Great Concert Hall in Kazan. Participating were choral ensembles from the Kuzbass, Orenburg, Smolensk, Kazan, Penza, Yaroslavl, Voronezh, Ekaterinburg, Don, Samara, and Tomsk Theological Seminaries. 

The jury was chaired by Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan and Elena M. Gundyaeva, Vice-Rector for Culture, Dean of the Faculty of Church Arts at St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation. The jury also included: Hegumen Lazar (Gnatov), Dean of the Faculty of Church Singing at Moscow Theological Academy, Candidate of Theology; A.A. Maximov, Artistic Director of the festival, Head of the Conducting Department at St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Professor at the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg Conservatory; O.E. Sheludyakova, Scientific Consultant, Head of the Choir Conducting Department at Ekaterinburg Theological Seminary, Professor at the Mussorgsky Ural State Conservatory, Professor at Kazan Orthodox Theological Seminary, Doctor of Art History; N.V. Leontyeva, Festival Coordinator, Head of the Control and Analytical Department of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church for Choir Conducting and Icon Painting Education.

That same day, a sacred music concert took place at the S. Saidashov State Great Concert Hall. Performing on the stage of the renowned hall were the festival's honorary guests – the choral ensembles of Moscow Theological Academy under the direction of Mikhail Shoshin and St. Petersburg Theological Academy under the direction of Raisa Gundyaeva. They participated outside the competition program as laureates of previous choral festivals for choir conducting departments. 

The concert was attended by Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan; Vice-Rector for Culture, Dean of the Faculty of Church Arts at St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation E.M. Gundyaeva; festival participants; representatives of Kazan parish choirs; and clergy of the Kazan Diocese.

The Moscow Theological Academy choir performed rarely performed choral concertos by D.S. Bortniansky: "I lift up mine eyes unto the hills" ("Vozvedokh ochi moi v gory") and "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord" ("Blazhen muzh, boyaysya Gospoda"); one concerto by his contemporary S.A. Degtyarev; and sacred compositions by S.V. Rachmaninoff, A.G. Gretchaninov, P.G. Chesnokov, G.V. Sviridov, and B.M. Ledkovsky. 

According to numerous reviews, the ensemble's rich and stylistically diverse program, authentic church interpretation and presentation, distinctive and highly professional sound made a profound and indelible impression on the audience.  

On May 2, the second round of competitive auditions took place, featuring ensembles from 10 theological seminaries. Upon its completion, Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan met with the jury members and honorary guests of the choral festival at the Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery and awarded them. Hegumen Lazar (Gnatov), Dean of the Faculty of Church Singing at Moscow Theological Academy, was awarded the Medal of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, II degree.

On the evening of May 2, a gala concert was held at the S. Saidashov Great Concert Hall. All ensembles participating in the competition program performed, along with the festival debutant – the choral ensemble of Tomsk Theological Seminary, and the choirs of Moscow and St. Petersburg Theological Academies. The results of the festival were then summarized, and an awards ceremony for participants and winners took place. 

In conclusion, a combined choir of students from theological academies and seminaries, under the direction of A.A. Maximov, Head of the Conducting Department at St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Professor at the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg Conservatory, performed the hymn "We Praise Thee, O God" ("Te Deum") by D.S. Bortniansky and the song "To You, the Fallen" ("K vam, pavshie") (music by Rodion Shchedrin, lyrics by Alexander Tvardovsky). 

On May 4, 2025, the Third Sunday after Pascha, of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, the final day of the IV All-Russian Choral Festival for choir conducting departments of theological schools, a conciliar hierarchical divine service was held at the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the capital of Tatarstan. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan; Metropolitan Isidore of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh; Bishop Pakhomiy of Chistopol and Nizhnekamsk; Bishop Methodius of Almetyevsk and Bugulma; Bishop Silouan of Peterhof, Vicar of the St. Petersburg Diocese; and Bishop Gavriil of Naberezhnye Chelny and Yelabuga.

Concelebrating with the hierarchs were: Protopriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church; Hegumen Lazar (Gnatov), Dean of the Faculty of Church Singing at Moscow Theological Academy; clergy of the Kazan Metropolia; and guests of the festival in holy orders.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the combined choir of participants of the IV All-Russian Choral Festival for choir conducting departments of theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church under the direction of Raisa G. Gundyaeva, laureate of international competitions, lecturer at the Faculty of Church Arts, choirmaster of the mixed choir of St. Petersburg Theological Academy.

Photos: Press Service of the Kazan Metropolia / MThA Press Office