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Title: Ivan Andreevich Kolchin papers
Date (inclusive): 1900-1967
Collection Number: 2000C49
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In Russian and English
Physical Description:
1 microfilm reel
(0.15 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Correspondence, clippings, and photographs, relating to Russian choirs in China and the United States.
Creator:
Kolchin, Ivan Andreevich, 1893-1967
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquired.
[Identification of item], Ivan Andreevich Kolchin Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Originals in: Museum of Russian Culture, San Francisco.
| 1893 August 1 | Born, Kalinino, Viatskaia guberniia, Russia |
| 1910 | Choir director, St. Nicholas church, Slobodsk, Russia |
| 1912-1917 | Student, University of Kazan', Russia |
| 1921-1936 | Choir director, St. Aleksei church, Mojiagou, China |
| 1935-1940 | Choir director, St. Nicholas church, Shanghai, China |
| 1940-1962 | Choir director, Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco, California |
| 1967 | Died, San Francisco, California |
Ivan Andreevich Kolchin was born in Kalinino, Viatskaia guberniia, on 1 August 1893. He received an education in music (specializing
in church singing), and by 1910 was already conducting a choir at the Church of St. Nicholas, in the town of Slobodskoi. From
1912 to 1917 he was a student at Kazan' University, managing to find time to conduct the university choir as well. The Civil
War forced him into emigration in China, where he once again turned to conducting choirs as a profession, this time earning
a worldwide reputation.
From 1921 to 1936, he was the choir director of the Church of St. Aleksei in Mojiagou, China (a suburb of Harbin), and from
1936 to 1940 he was the choir director of the Church of St. Nicholas in Shanghai. At the same time, he trained and conducted
his own male choir that toured China, drawing large audiences, winning prizes and achieving some prominence there and abroad.
Kolchin became so well-known for the quality of his work that he was invited to conduct the choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
in San Francisco. He directed this choir from 1940 to 1962, also finding time to direct a Russian male choir that appeared
in concert programs throughout California. Kolchin died in San Francisco in April 1967.
This collection consists of clippings, correspondence, scrapbooks and other materials relating to the musical career of Ivan
Andreevich Kolchin. Kolchin was a noted church choir director in Kazan', Russia, Harbin and Shanghai, China, and San Francisco,
California, as well as director of a Russian male vocal ensemble and music instructor. His performances drew large audiences
and he was considered one of the preeminent émigré conductors.
Detailed processing and preservation microfilming for these materials were made possible by a generous grant from the National
Endowment for the Humanities and by matching funds from the Hoover Institution and the Museum of Russian Culture. The grant
also provides depositing a microfilm copy in the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. The original materials remain in the
Museum of Russian Culture, San Francisco, as its property. A transfer table indicating corresponding box and reel numbers
is available at the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
The Hoover Institution assumes all responsibility for notifying users that they must comply with the copyright law of the
United States (Title 17 United States Code) and Hoover Rules for the Use and Reproduction of Archival Materials.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Russians -- United States
Russians -- China
Choral societies -- United States
Choral societies -- China