Slavic Voices at King's College Chapel

Event information

Join us on the journey to explore and share the culturally unique and musically diverse repertoire of the wide Slavic world and beyond: Orthodox chants, beautiful classics by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Schnittke and others, refined XVIII-XIX centuries Art songs and gritty folklore from the far corners of Siberia to the banks of the Black Sea.

The repertoire of Slavic Voices London & Brighton choir is sung in Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Belorussian, sometimes even Yiddish or Romanian. Slavic Voices perform in a way that is rarely encountered in the choral world. There is freedom and spontaneity in their approach to folklore as well as precision and deep focus in their classical repertoire, presented with great attention to cultural context, history and style.

The choir opened in September 2023 and now has around 90 singers coming from many cultural backgrounds. They have performed joint concerts with a Macedonian Folk Duo Filip Arilon and Stojan Stojanov (Macedonia), Maspindzeli Georgian choir (London), Heartwood Chorus in Bristol, Bulgarian dance group Vezanitsa (Brighton) and even collaborated with a UK Klezmer-Punk Carnival Chaos Band Buffo’s Wake. The non-auditioned choir warmly welcomes new singers and aims to share their music through concerts across England, with their most recent performance held at the iconic St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol. Led by Polina Skovoroda-Shepherd, granddaughter of a Cossack, an internationally acclaimed performer, educator and cultural activist.

This pre-Christmas concert in London promises to be an enchanting evening, celebrating the essence of Slavic culture through music that transcends borders.

- “A mesmerising sonic journey through Eastern Europe’s rich musical heritage, the concert was a vibrant blend of heart-warming, uplifting, and classical tunes. Every singer poured their soul into the performance, creating an unforgettable experience. At the heart of it all, Polina's brilliance and passion drive this exceptional ensemble, turning music into pure joy for both performers and audience alike.” - G.S, audience member in Brighton, March 2025.

- "In the current geo-political climate, culture and humanity are more important than ever, and these are qualities close to the heart of Polina Shepherd...I highly recommend the choir to anyone with the slightest interest in music." - DG, audience member in London, February 2025

- "I was totally captivated by the harmonies and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. I was particularly taken with Polina's style of conducting which I felt drew the audience deeper into the music. An absolute pleasure to listen to." - L.R, audience member in Brighton, March 2025.