In 1917, as a result of World War I, the Old Russian Empire began to collapse forcing native Russians, including many Cossacks, loyal to the Tsar, to flee their homeland and seek exile in other countries.

Although scattered throughout the world, relations between families and friends were restored again after many years.

They had been able to preserve their old traditions and customs, from the Old Country, through performing their famous songs and dances.

This prompted Andrej Scholuch to create the Ural Cossacks Choir in 1924, later to become known as the leading Cossacks Choir beside the Don Cossacks Serge Jaroff performing con-certs worldwide before World War II.

In 1940, following the outbreak of World War Ii, the Choir stopped their activities and the members were once again scattered throughout the world.

Between 1950 and 1955, Andrej Scholuch conducted the Black Sea Cossacks performing preferably liturgical concerts. Overcoming many obstacles he finally succeeded in recreating the old Ural Cossacks Choir with some of the old members as well as some new singers, notably Ivan Rebroff.

In 1972, Andrej Scholuch was forced to retire due to old age and this brought about a temporary end to the performances of the Ural Cossacks Choir.

Fortunately twenty years later the younger members of the old Choir, under the direction of Alexandr Kovlegin decided to recreate their old tradition: He successfully restored the Choir to its former status, four years after the death of Andrej Scholuch, with the help of Wanja Scholuch, Andrej?s son. The enabled them to keep alive the musical heritage of Old Russian culture, loved not just by the Cossacks but also by many others worldwide.

The new Choir, the last remaining Cossacks of the old generation, hope to reach out to and share the cultural heritage of Russian Orthodox Church music and folksongs of old Russia to a worldwide audience.