Leading Light Chorus/Choir   

The "Leading Light" vocal ensemble was formed in September, 1991, by tenor and conductor Georgy Avgustinovich, who gathered together a number of gifted singers who had previously sung with the Tula State Choir. The mandate of the a cappella ensemble was from the beginning to revive Russian spiritual vocal music from the past. This, in essence, explains their unusual name, suggesting the light and love of their harmonious voices, leading listeners to reflect on their own lives and relationships.

From the start, the ensemble focused on little-known composers, such as Strokin, Arkangelsky, Chesnokov, as well as anonymous monk-composers from the religious houses of Kievo-Pechorskaya Lavra, Optina Pustyn' and Svyato-Danilov. This follows the ensemble's aim to introduce its listeners to the forgotten pages of Russian musical history. The ensemble does not limit itself to religious material, however, but also includes Russian and European masterworks on the one hand, and Russian and Cossack folk songs on the other.

Since its founding, Leading Light has performed in cities across Russia, including a successful concert at the Tchaikovsky Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. The ensemble won the Grand-Prix at the 1st Inter-Regional Music Festival of Central Russia (2000). They have since toured through Northern Italy, and have been featured in a number of key festival events in Russia.

Reviews

"The very first concerts of the ensemble drew wide public attention, and won high appreciation from the critics... The concept of Spirit is a diverse and complex matter, something the ensemble 'Leading Light' seems to well understand."

Tula News (Russia)