Music Directors

Slavyanka was formed in 1979 in San Francisco by a group of former Yale Russian Chorus members and others interested in singing Russian music. Paul Andrews, a former Yale Russian Chorus participant, became the founding director and continued in that capacity until 1991. Alexei Shipovalnikov, a recent émigré from Moscow, then directed the chorus from 1991 through June 1997. Since July 1997, Slavyanka's Music Director has been Gregory A. Smirnov, who directed choirs in Pskov, Russia for over twenty years prior to his emigration to the United States in 1992. Maestro Smirnov retired from the Chorus effective January 1, 2012 after 15 years of devoted service. Paul Andrews will be the interim Director while a search is conducted for a new Music Director.