Figure 1.--This was the younger group of choristers Big Children's Choir of Soviet TV and Radio in 1971. The boys and girls wore matching outfits. The girls wore plaid jumpers with very large white collars. The boys had what look like matchig vests and short pants. Notice the elaborate theater.

We note Big Children Choir of Russian (formerly Soviet) TV and Radio. We note the choir operating as early as 1970, but we are nor sure when the Choir was actually founded. Nor do we have any information on the history of the Choir. As far as we can tell, the Choir was sponsored by the Soviet state-owned television and radio network. We do not know much about Russian television and radio. Under the Soviet Union there could be no private media. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, private media outlets were created, including television, radio, and publications. President Putin has been steadily returning the private media to state control. We believe that this Choir continues to be sponsored by state-owned Russian TV and Radio. The children involved look to range from about 7-15 years of age. There look to be two different choirs separated by age. One choir looks to have children about 7-10 years of age. Another looks to have children about 11-15 yeatrs of age. This is, however, only a rough guess based on available photographs. We are unsure about the size of the choirs, but they look to have about 25-30 children in each age group. We have no information on where the Choir is located, but assume it is St. Petersburhg or Moscow. No information is available on the selection or training of the children involved in the Choir. It does not look to be a Chour trained in a boarding school, but we have no details on this. It is a mixed Choir with both boys and girls participating. We do not have details on the type of music the children sing. They of course appear on television of radio. We note live prerformances as well, but are not sure where these performanes are held. Some photographs show them performing in very elaborate theaters. We note trips both to other areas of the Soviet Union/Russia as well as foreign countries. We note one trip to China in 1980. The children appear in a variety of uniforms. The uniforms for the boys and girls are different, but coordinated. We note a variety of uniforms worn by the children. The uniforms for the two age groups choirs are very different. We note several styles of uniforms. The younger boys generally wear vests and matching short pants with white ankle socks. The older boys wear jackets and long pants. They also have a Russian folk costume. All of the children during Soviet times wore red scarves. The Choir appears to have attended Young Pioneer camps together where they wore the standard Pioneer uniform. The Choir has an extensive internet website. It is in Russia, however, so we have not been able to lear much about the Choir's history or activities.

Purpose

The Choir's Musical Director and Teacher, Victor Sergavich Popov believes that the choir is able to bring happiness to people through music and song. He is pleased that the choir's success is a by word for music excellence not only in Russia but also throughout the world.

Chronology

We note Big Children Choir of Russian (formerly Soviet) TV and Radio. We note the choir operating as early as 1970, but we are nor sure when the Choir was actually founded. We note that the choir is currently functioning. As a result, we know that it has operated for at least 30 years. The photograph here is from the 1971 (figure 1). We do not know if the choir was operating in the 1960s.

History

Nor do we have little information on the history of the Choir. It was founded in 1970 by the State Run Television and Radio Committee. They appointed Victor Papov Principal, professor and Musical Artist of USSR to be the choir's director. We do not know much about Russian television and radio. Under the Soviet Union there could be no private media. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, private media outlets were created, including television, radio, and publications. President Putin has been steadily returning the private media to state control.

Location

The Choir is a children's choir based in Moscow.

Members

The original members of the choir from the 1970s are now grown up and they send their children along. This helps to keep the choir alive. There are over 200 boys and girls in the choir.

Age

We believe that this Choir continues to be sponsored by state-owned Russian TV and Radio. The children involved look to range from about 7-15 years of age. There look to be two different choirs separated by age. The Choir is split up into 3 sections. The Little un's have children aged 7 to 10 years. The Middle uns have children aged 11 to 13 years. The Senior choir has youth aged 14 to 15 years, altjhough some youth as old as 17 are involved in the Choir.

Size

We are unsure about the size of the choirs, but they look to have about 25-30 children in each age group. We have no information on where the Choir is located, but assume it is St. Petersburhg or Moscow.

Selection and Training

We have limited information on the selection or training of the children involved in the Choir. It does not look to be a Choir trained in a boarding school, but we have no details on this. It is independent of schools but selects its members from all the city. From time to time the choir advertises its vacancies. interested parents and children go to audition. It selects the best singers. I expect the schools in Moscow which are attended by children with a music ability easily secure a place. The choir's teaching is in the Russian classical music and song style. The choir meets three times aweek to rehearse.

Mixed Choir

It is a mixed Choir with both boys and girls participating. Many Western European choirs are separe boys and girls choirs. Mixed choirs seem more common in the Soviet Union/Russia. We note that over time that girls have come to increasingly dominate the choir. By thge 1990s there seems to be only a sprikling of boys. The choir seems to go out of their way to feature their boys as much as their girls, but the girls clearly sem to dominate. The smaller talent pool has resulted in noticeably weaker boy leads than they had 30 years ago.

Music

The Choir website has a lot of material describing thre music the Choir sings. Each section sings appropriate musical items. Some music is suitable for any age of children.

Appearances

They of course appear on television of radio. We note live prerformances as well, but are not sure where these performanes are held. Some photographs show them performing in very elaborate theaters. I am ure our Russian readers will be able to identify the facility. There are also appearances in more modest facilities. There also appear to be some open-air performances. We also note some appearances with other choirs at mass events, at least during the Soviet era. We also notice the Choir performing in political venues. One photographshows them I think at the Supreme Soviet, Perhaps our Russian readers can confirm this. We note trips both to other areas of the Soviet Union/Russia as well as foreign countries.

Trips

We note one trip to China in 1980. We also note what looks like a trip to Japan in 1981. There was also a visit to Brazil in 198?. They perform in Moscow and at other venues throughout Russia. They also travel over seas. There have been concerts in Japan and Germany. Withoin Russia the choir travel by train but for overseas engagements they travel by airline.

Individual Choristers

The Choir website has someinteresting information about individual choristers and their experiences with the Choir. This is something that most choir websites do not have and it is interesting to read a little about the children involved and their interet in music. One of the boys whose experiences they describe is Alexander Fedorko who was especially interested in Russian folk music.

Uniforms

The children appear in a variety of uniforms. Some appear to be a standard uniform worn over a long period. Others we only note being worn a few times. The uniforms for the boys and girls are different, but coordinated. We note a variety of uniforms worn by the children. The uniforms for the three age groups choirs are very different. The costumes not only vasry by age, but depanding upon the nature of the material they ae singing. We note several styles of uniforms. The younger boys generally wear vests and matching short pants with white ankle socks. We note at one function the younger choristers wearing two styles of uniforms. The older boys wear jackets and long pants. They also have a Russian folk costume. All of the children during Soviet times wore red scarves. The Choir appears to have attended Young Pioneer camps together where they wore the standard Pioneer uniform. We see nothing separate about the Pioneer uniform the choir wore. We note that the choir sang at some camp functions.

Choir Website