About the Chorus
The Yale Slavic Chorus is a performance group comprised of singers from a variety of cultural and academic backgrounds who share a common passion for Eastern European folk music. The Chorus sings a diverse repertoire that spans the traditions of Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Georgia, among others. Though many members of the Chorus are not native speakers of Slavic languages, the Yale Slavic Chorus works extensively with native folk musicians and vocalists to practice accurate pronunciation and style. A primarily undergraduate group, the Yale Slavic Chorus is dedicated to maintaining musical vigor and excellence, seeking to empower people of marginalized genders through song.
If you would like to make a donation to the Yale Slavic Chorus, please click below! All donations are appreciated and help the chorus in funding workshops and musical study tours.
A Brief History
The Chorus was founded in 1969, the first year of undergraduate co-education at Yale, and was the first all-women’s group on campus. It was originally conducted by William Robbins, Jr., then a music major in Yale College and a member of the all-male Yale Russian Chorus. In the years since its founding, the Chorus, colloquially known as the Slavs, has continued the tradition of excellent, culturally-informed folk music at Yale. Now welcoming singers of all genders, the Chorus celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2019 with a reunion concert that drew alumni from all across the globe.
Our Method and Music
We are an entirely student-run, student-directed ensemble. We transcribe and arrange much of our own music, but are always looking for new songs to sing. We also learn much of our music via an oral tradition and by listening to original source recordings. During our performances, we strive to maintain the original mode of presentation, which often includes dissonant harmonies, unusual rhythms, and distinctive vocal qualities which make Slavic and Eastern European music unique and exciting. We have also begun incorporating more traditional folk dances into our performances.
The Yale Slavic Chorus 