LYRA, a Russian vocal ensemble from St. Petersburg, will perform at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Milton this Thursday, September 12, at 7:30 p.m., as part of the Music at St. Michael’s series. The a capella group sings sacred music, Russian folk songs, and works by well-known and little-known Russian composers.The concert is free and open to the public; a freewill offering will be accepted.

LYRA is a community of professional musicians, most of whom are students or postgraduates of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. The group seeks to explore and popularize Russian vocal music by introducing the enormous sacred and folk musical heritage of Russia as a window into the country’s history and culture.

Its sacred repertoire ranges from ancient songs of the Russian Orthodox Church, to works of little-known composers from the 18th through 20th centuries, and works by familiar composers including Tchaikovsky, Rachmoninoff, and Stravinsky. The group also performs classic Russian folk songs as well as songs, romances and arias from operas by Russian as well as foreign composers.

In 2001 LYRA was awarded the Montreux International Choral Festival diploma (Switzerland), and was a winner of the Coleraine International Choral Festival (Northern Ireland) in 2005.

St Michael’s is located at 112 Randolph Avenue in Milton. Parking is available on the street, with handicapped parking in the small rear parking lot. By MBTA, take the Red Line to Ashmont and the Mattapan Trolley to the Milton Village stop. The church is about a quarter mile walk up Adams Street and Randolph Avenue. For more information contact the church office at: 617-698-1813