Russian singers returning to Lehigh

The Valaam Monastery Ensemble, a group of five male singers from St. Petersburg, Russia, is returning to Lehigh for the second time in two years to perform a lunchtime concert of Russian Orthodox liturgical music and Russian folk songs.
The a cappella group will perform in the Asa Packer Dining Room at noon Tuesday, Oct. 4. Dining services is preparing a special menu of Russian cuisine for the occasion.
The event is sponsored by the Global Union and the department of modern languages and literature.
Founded in 1993, the ensemble has toured North America and Europe extensively. The singers are currently making their fourth visit to the United States.
The ensemble sings a variety of music, ranging from Kievan chants to Russian polyphonic music of the 17th and 18th centuries, and also including masterpieces of Greek, Serbian and Georgian church music.
The group’s mission is to preserve the rich musical heritage of Northern Russia and to raise funds for the restoration of the historic Valaam monastery.