Please join us on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 19:00 Moscow Time for a screening of a documentary about the Yale Russian Chorus and its enduring legacy of music and cultural exchange between the U.S. and Russia. The 40-minute documentary will be followed by a post-screening discussion with Director Ben Stamper and former Yale Russian Chorus Conductor Gabriel Mesa.
Traditsiya (2025) traces the Yale Russian Chorus’ more than 70-year history, exploring how generations of American singers have engaged with Russian choral traditions, language, and culture. The documentary film features archival footage and images, recent interviews, and performances from both current members and alumni. Through personal anecdotes, exclusive concert footage, and historical perspectives, Traditsiya highlights how music has long served as a cultural bridge between the U.S. and Russia.
Please join us on Thursday, May 22, 2025, for the virtual premiere of this documentary film, followed by a post-screening discussion and live audience Q&A between the Director Ben Stamper and former Chorus Conductor Gabriel Mesa. Tune in to ask your questions live!
Film Screening: from 19:00–19:40 Moscow Time
Live Discussion and Q&A: from 19:40–20:30 Moscow Time
***
Ben Stamper is a filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist with a penchant for adventure. With a background in fine art and music, Ben’s distinctive approach to imagery and sound has led him to work on a broad range of projects around the world. Ben also works in close collaboration with filmmaker Andrew Michael Ellis to create films that blend poetry, choreography, and myth. He is a Lincoln City Fellow and has been the artist-in-residence at the Center for Faith & Work and Grace Farms Foundation. His work has been screened by National Geographic, Lincoln Center, Cannes Short Film Corner, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met Breuer, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Gabriel Mesa is the former conductor of the Yale Russian Chorus (2021-2024). He is currently a PhD student in the Yale History Department who studies the early Soviet Union and late Imperial Russia. He graduated from Yale in May 2023 with an M.A. in History and a B.S. in both Physics and History. Gabriel first joined the chorus in 2018 and sings first tenor.
***
ALL AMERICAN CENTER IN MOSCOW EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE / ВСЕ МЕРОПРИЯТИЯ АМЕРИКАНСКОГО ЦЕНТРА В МОСКВЕ БЕСПЛАТНЫ
***
To watch this event live, tune in to the American Center in Moscow’s YouTube channel and VK page. You can also watch the recordings of these events on the same platforms after the event’s end.
You can register below and leave your valid email address to receive a reminder 30 minutes before the online event begins.
To join other AMC Online programs, please check the American Center’s website and TimePad calendars.