The State Academic Northern Russian Folk Choir was founded on March 8, 1926, in Veliky Ustyug by Yakovlevna Kolotilova. It is considered a gem of Northern Russian culture, consistently shining with success on concert stages in Russia and around the world. From 1960 to 2008, the artistic director of the Northern Choir was Nina Konstantinovna Meshko, People's Artist of the USSR. Since 2008, the group's artistic director has been Svetlana Ignatieva, a professor at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music and Honored Artist of Russia.
The Northern Russian Folk Choir consists of three groups: a choir, a dance ensemble, and an orchestra of Russian folk instruments.
The costumes of the Northern Russian Folk Choir deserve special attention. They were created by professional fashion designers based on the best examples from museum collections in Arkhangelsk, Moscow, and Saint Petersburg, reflecting the collective image of the traditional Russian costume of the northern regions.
Throughout its nearly century-long history, the Northern Choir has toured in many countries, including Poland, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, China, India, Afghanistan, Japan, Tunisia, the USA, Serbia, and others, winning numerous awards at various competitions. The ensemble regularly participates in Russian and international competitions and festivals.
In 2023, the group performed in the Republic of Uzbekistan as part of the international project "Russian Seasons." In 2024, they participated in the Russia-China exhibition in Harbin, where they achieved high honors.