The church is located at 401 McReynolds St. in Carthage.
The quartet is composed of Mikhail Trifonov (baritone), Alexander Nikanov (second tenor), Igor Dmitriev (bass and director) and Dmitry Mednikov (first tenor).
The Konevets Quartet, founded in 1992 by graduates and students of the St. Petersburg Music Conservatory, takes its name from Konevets Island and Monastery on Lake Ladoga, 160 kilometers northeast of St. Petersburg. It was there over six hundred years ago that St. Arseny Konevsky founded a cloister dedicated to the Mother of God. During the Soviet years the island was occupied by the military and the monastery almost completely destroyed. It is now mostly restored.
During the early years of the quartet's association with the historic monastery, it sang mainly for those working on the restoration, frequently for church services on Sundays and Feast Days, and for the pilgrims and the destitute seeking shelter in the restored buildings.
Trained at the conservatory in the great Russian musical tradition, the quartet’s goal was to establish an a capella chamber choir with its own distinctive harmonic sound rather than as a vehicle for individual soloists. The ensemble’s repertoire has therefore been selected for this purpose and the major part of it is Russian sacred music ranging from chants and hymns from 18th to 20th century composers including Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky, to ancient chants and hymns in original arrangements or re-harmonized by the quartet. The second major part of the repertoire is Russian classical, national, and folk as well as new and little known Russian songs.
The quartet has toured extensively across Europe and has begun a regular touring program in North America. The members of the quartet have also toured in the U.S. with the St. Petersburg chamber Choir and soloist Dmitri Hvorostovsky.
To date the ensemble has released six compact disc recordings. The singers earn their full livings from performing, but they have also continued their benefit work for restoration at the Konevets Monastery and at a daughter church in the heart of St. Petersburg.
“We invite everyone to come and hear this wonderful group,” said the Rev. Chuck Plowman.
