Jaroff, Sergei

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Jaroff, Sergei

Jaroff, Sergei, Russian choral conductor; b. Moscow, March 20, 1896; d. Lakewood, N.J., Oct. 5, 1985. He studied at the Academy for Church Singing at the Imperial Synod, and then became a Cossack officer. After the Revolution and the defeat of the White Army, he left Russia and established the Don Cossack Chorus, with which he made successful tours in Europe. He eventually settled in America. The repertoire of his chorus included popular Russian songs in artful arrangements, emphasizing dynamic contrasts, and also sacred works by Russian composers.

—Jaroff, Sergei, Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire