NORWICH – The Chenango County Council of the Arts, Norwich, will present the Moscow Boys Choir in their “Christmas Around the World” Tour on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. The performance will take place in the Martin W. Kappel Theater.

Founded in 1957, this choir is among Russia's most prestigious all-male choirs. In Moscow, members of the choir attend a special school called The Moscow Boys Capella that provides both general education and musical training. Being selected as a member of the touring company of The Moscow Boys Choir is no easy feat. Hand-picked from over 400 students, these highly talented youngsters have the voices of angels. The boys traditionally begin their life in music as early as age 5, but are not allowed to perform for audiences until age 9.

Artistic Director Leonid Baklushin became a member of the Choir at a young age. He rose in the ranks to become a truly gifted tenor, arranger, and conductor. In 1988, Mr. Baklushin graduated from the Music College at the Moscow Conservatory and received his degree in bassoon and conducting. In 1993, he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied under S. Kalinin, with a Master’s Degree in conducting. In 1991, Mr. Baklushin became the Choir Master of The Moscow Boys Choir, an honor of which he is deeply proud. In 1999, he was awarded a Medal of Honor for his work in the arts by the Russian government.

The Choir’s repertoire is varied and extensive, including works by contemporary Russian composers as well as Russian, American, and European classics. They perform works by composers such as Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Rachmaninov, and Bernstein. Additionally, the choir performs religious compositions by Russian, American, and European composers as well as popular Russian folk songs.

The Moscow Boys Choir enjoys an international reputation for excellence. They have appeared in a Command Performance at The Royal Albert Hall in London for members of the British Royal Family. The choir has toured South Korea, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Holland.

The year 2007 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Moscow Boys Capella, the school at which the boys study their craft, and there were many concerts and celebrations surrounding this momentous event. Sharing their beautiful and transcendent music with the world has been the hallmark of the Choir’s success, and they look forward to many more years of carrying on their tradition of excellence well into the future.