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In 1991, the [[San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble]] planned a trip to perform in Russia, and group members Rich and Mary Ferguson were invited to stay with Gregory and his wife Ludmilla in Pskov. As a result of this visit, Gregory was invited by director Gary Lamprecht to guest conduct the ensemble for a Christmas concert.<ref name="tribune2" /> In 1992, Gregory and his wife made the decision to immigrate to the United States. After arriving in [[New York City|New York]], he found a job as the choir director of a [[Russian Orthodoxy|Russian Orthodox]] Church in [[Menlo Park, California]].<ref name="tribune2">{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Betsy |title=Talented conductor brings forgotten classics out of Russia |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-talented-conductor-brings-f/143397137/ |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=The Tribune |date=3 June 1993}}</ref> As a faithful Orthodox Christian, he was grateful for the opportunity to perform [[Russian liturgical music|sacred Russian music]] that was previously repressed in the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="tribune2" /> He became a US citizen in 1999.<ref name="coast" />
In 1991, the [[San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble]] planned a trip to perform in Russia, and group members Rich and Mary Ferguson were invited to stay with Gregory and his wife Ludmilla in Pskov. As a result of this visit, Gregory was invited by director Gary Lamprecht to guest conduct the ensemble for a Christmas concert.<ref name="tribune2" /> In 1992, Gregory and his wife made the decision to immigrate to the United States. After arriving in [[New York City|New York]], he found a job as the choir director of a [[Russian Orthodoxy|Russian Orthodox]] Church in [[Menlo Park, California]].<ref name="tribune2">{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Betsy |title=Talented conductor brings forgotten classics out of Russia |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-talented-conductor-brings-f/143397137/ |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=The Tribune |date=3 June 1993}}</ref> As a faithful Orthodox Christian, he was grateful for the opportunity to perform [[Russian liturgical music|sacred Russian music]] that was previously repressed in the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="tribune2" /> He became a US citizen in 1999.<ref name="coast" />


In 1996, Gregory was hired as the choral director of the [[Slavyanka (a cappella group)|Slavyanka]] chorus, a position that he retained until 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Slavyanka 40 Year Legacy |url=https://www.slavyankachorus.org/40%20Years |website=Slavyanka Homepage |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref> His work included arranging, editing, and transcribing a variety of secular and sacred choral music for the choir.<ref>{{cite web |title=Repertoire 1979-2011 |url=https://www.slavyankachorus.org/Repertoire |website=Slavyanka Homepage |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref> In 1998, Slavyanka performed his arrangement of [[Alfred Schnittke|Alfred Schnittke's]] "Jesus Prayer" in the film [[What Dreams May Come (film)|What Dreams May Come]].<ref name="independent-famed">{{cite news |title=Famed Russian-Style men's chorus comes to the coast |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent-coast-observer-famed-russia/143137051/ |access-date=14 March 2024 |work=Independent Coast Observer |date=30 July 2004}}</ref> His arrangements are included on several Slavyanka recordings, including the 2000 album "Song of the Volga Boatmen".
In 1996, Gregory was hired as the choral director of the [[Slavyanka (a cappella group)|Slavyanka]] chorus, a position that he retained until 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Slavyanka 40 Year Legacy |url=https://www.slavyankachorus.org/40%20Years |website=Slavyanka Homepage |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref> His work included arranging, editing, and transcribing a variety of secular and sacred choral music for the choir.<ref>{{cite web |title=Repertoire 1979-2011 |url=https://www.slavyankachorus.org/Repertoire |website=Slavyanka Homepage |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref> In 1998, Slavyanka performed his arrangement of [[Alfred Schnittke|Alfred Schnittke's]] "Jesus Prayer" in the film [[What Dreams May Come (film)|What Dreams May Come]].<ref name="independent-famed">{{cite news |title=Famed Russian-Style men's chorus comes to the coast |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent-coast-observer-famed-russia/143137051/ |access-date=14 March 2024 |work=Independent Coast Observer |date=30 July 2004}}</ref> His arrangements are included on several Slavyanka recordings, including the 2000 album "Song of the Volga Boatmen".<ref>{{Album citation|Album name=Song of the Volga Boatmen|Album code=songs-of-the-volga-boatmen-mw0001765610|site=AMG}}</ref>


Gregory has uncovered and performed a number of rare choral works that were secreted away during Soviet times, including ones by [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]], [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]], and [[Alexander Gretchaninov|Gretchaninov]].<ref name="tribune2" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lamprecht |first1=Gary |title=From Russia, with hope |work=San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble Voice |date=Spring 1993}}</ref> In 1993, he conducted a [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]] rendition of the [[Cherubikon|Cherubic Hymn]] with the [[San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble]] that he had discovered on hand-written sheets in a private Russian library.<ref name="tribune2" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sosna |first1=Marvin |title=Ensemble's 20th a joyful affair |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-ensembles-20th-a-joyful-af/143397594/ |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=The Tribune |issue=9 June 1997}}</ref>
Gregory has uncovered and performed a number of rare choral works that were secreted away during Soviet times, including ones by [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]], [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]], and [[Alexander Gretchaninov|Gretchaninov]].<ref name="tribune2" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lamprecht |first1=Gary |title=From Russia, with hope |work=San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble Voice |date=Spring 1993}}</ref> In 1993, he conducted a [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]] rendition of the [[Cherubikon|Cherubic Hymn]] with the [[San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble]] that he had discovered on hand-written sheets in a private Russian library.<ref name="tribune2" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sosna |first1=Marvin |title=Ensemble's 20th a joyful affair |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-ensembles-20th-a-joyful-af/143397594/ |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=The Tribune |issue=9 June 1997}}</ref>
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://www.discogs.com/release/12180102-Slavyanka-Mens-Russian-Chorus-Gregory-Smirnov-Song-Of-The-Volga-Boatmen Discogs: "Song of the Volga Boatmen" by Slavyanka]
* [http://pskoviana.ru/izdania/pskkompozimuz/izd/smirnof.html Смирнов Григорий Анатольевич. Культура земли Псковской, Выпуск № 5]
* [http://pskoviana.ru/izdania/pskkompozimuz/izd/smirnof.html Смирнов Григорий Анатольевич. Культура земли Псковской, Выпуск № 5]
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0001610228}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Revision as of 23:40, 15 March 2024

Gregory Smirnov
Григорий Смирнов
Portrait of choral director Gregory Smirnov
Born (1949-03-16) March 16, 1949 (age 75)
Pskov, RSFSR, Soviet Union
Occupation(s)Choral director, composer, music instructor

Gregory Anatolyevich Smirnov (Russian: Григорий Анатольевич Смирнов; 16 March 1949) is a Russian-born choral director, composer, and music instructor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He served as the director of the Slavyanka chorus from 1996 to 2011.

Biography

Gregory was born in Pskov in 1949. He was 13 years old when he first began taking piano lessons.[1] He attended the Pskov College of Music and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1970, then a Master of Fine Arts in Music from the Saratov Conservatory. At the conservatory, his specializations included choir conducting, voice coaching, and music education.[2] In Pskov, he directed several choirs and ran the music department at the Pskov Drama Theater [ru].[1] He also worked as a teacher at the Pskov College of Music for ten years.[3] Before emigrating from Russia, he founded Russia's Chamber Choir, which gave an award-winning performance at the Festival of Russian Choirs in 1992.[4]

In 1991, the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble planned a trip to perform in Russia, and group members Rich and Mary Ferguson were invited to stay with Gregory and his wife Ludmilla in Pskov. As a result of this visit, Gregory was invited by director Gary Lamprecht to guest conduct the ensemble for a Christmas concert.[5] In 1992, Gregory and his wife made the decision to immigrate to the United States. After arriving in New York, he found a job as the choir director of a Russian Orthodox Church in Menlo Park, California.[5] As a faithful Orthodox Christian, he was grateful for the opportunity to perform sacred Russian music that was previously repressed in the Soviet Union.[5] He became a US citizen in 1999.[2]

In 1996, Gregory was hired as the choral director of the Slavyanka chorus, a position that he retained until 2011.[6] His work included arranging, editing, and transcribing a variety of secular and sacred choral music for the choir.[7] In 1998, Slavyanka performed his arrangement of Alfred Schnittke's "Jesus Prayer" in the film What Dreams May Come.[8] His arrangements are included on several Slavyanka recordings, including the 2000 album "Song of the Volga Boatmen".[9]

Gregory has uncovered and performed a number of rare choral works that were secreted away during Soviet times, including ones by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Gretchaninov.[5][10] In 1993, he conducted a Tchaikovsky rendition of the Cherubic Hymn with the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble that he had discovered on hand-written sheets in a private Russian library.[5][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Bartlett, Jean (28 January 2009). "Choral masterpieces from Russia with love". Pacifica Tribune. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Russian Men's Chorus comes to the coast". Independent Coast Observer. 26 July 2002. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Smirnov Music School". Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  4. ^ Lorenz-Fife, Iris (31 July 1998). "Russian chorus gives mesmerizing performance". Independent Coast Observer. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e Ward, Betsy (3 June 1993). "Talented conductor brings forgotten classics out of Russia". The Tribune. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Slavyanka 40 Year Legacy". Slavyanka Homepage. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Repertoire 1979-2011". Slavyanka Homepage. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Famed Russian-Style men's chorus comes to the coast". Independent Coast Observer. 30 July 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  9. ^
  10. ^ Lamprecht, Gary (Spring 1993). "From Russia, with hope". San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble Voice.
  11. ^ Sosna, Marvin. "Ensemble's 20th a joyful affair". The Tribune. No. 9 June 1997. Retrieved 15 March 2024.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gregory_Smirnov&oldid=1213927802"