RADFORD – Music conductor Sergey Pimenov and Lyceum Male Choir of Yekaterinburg, Russia -- guest musicians at the weeklong Russian and American Choral Festival at Radford University -- will culminate their visit with a concert on Monday, March 2, at 8 p.m., in the Performance Hall of the Covington Center.

Under the direction of RU choral ensembles conductor David Otis Castonguay, the concert features the RU choir and the Radford High School Concert Choir conducted by Lois Castonguay. The music festival includes rehearsals with RU and participating high school and children’s choirs. Lectures on music education in contemporary Russian will be part of the week’s activities.

Pimenov is the artistic director of the Male Choir Lyceum. His choirs have performed around the world including two invited appearances at national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. He is an internationally recognized expert in Russian liturgical music, adult male and boys’ voices. Designated Honored Artist in Russia, Pimenov also directs international choral competitions in Russia and Malta.

The festival is the RU Department of Music’s latest outreach to southwestern Virginia high school students. Last week, more than 100 students from Washington County schools visited campus. Castonguay and members of RU ensembles familiarized students with the music program and the College of Visual and Performing Arts, while admissions counselors answered questions and provided information about the RU experience.

Music department chair Al Wojtera says bringing high school students to RU is a good start in getting the students’ feet on campus and, in turn, faculty can show the public the new Covington Center. Wojtera says, “It’s a win-win situation.”