About us
Ensemble Arto Doxo consists of musicians who live in London, and in their music use the language of art in order to worship the Holy Trinity. Currently all members of ensemble take part in services at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God In chicwick (london).
One of the central traditions of Orthodoxy is unaccompanied singing, which remains an inextinguishable part of any service - and this tradition has attained a 2000 year history. Just as icons are a way of describing and explaining the Gospel, so it is with the music, communicating it through colours or notes.
Music brings to us a certain order, and aids us to consider the eternal. The main surviving Orthodox chanting traditions had their beginnings in Byzantium and Old Russia. The drive to find the essence of these ancient traditions in their many forms is something that unites the singers of 'Arto Doxo'.
The repertoire of the choir comprises Orthodox music from many different historical eras, styles and origins. This dive into the musical history allows us all to see that this is not music of the past nor of the present, nor indeed of the future - but music of eternity, a time period which has no beginning nor end, a time without hours, the reality of timelessness. The mission of the choir is to unite the different eras, in the 21st century, in the essence of art itself and at the same hearken back to the traditions of the apostolic age (hence the Greek name Δόξα).
Arseny Kruglov (bass, artistic director)
Arseny received a classical musical education in St. Petersburg (Russia), where he graduated from the College of Music (named after Rachmaninoff), studying piano and trombone. At the same time, Arseny also completed a course in sacred music at the world-famous Valaam Monastery. He subsequently completed his vocal training under various famous St. Petersburg singing teachers and practitioners. Arseny began his active singing career in 1996, and since then has been a member of several different professional ensembles, ranging from church choirs to secular academic choirs. During this time, he participated in choral festivals and concerts both in Russia and in Europe.
Currently, Arseny is a Choir Director at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God in Chiswick (London).
Dmitry Tugarinov (tenor)
Dmitry was born into a family of musicians, so to a certain extent, his career path was predetermined. In addition to a musical education studying both the flute and piano, Dmitry graduated from University College London with a Masters of Science. Along with the musical training, he has worked in the choir of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God (London) as a chorister, and then as a conductor.
Dmitry has extensive experience in international competitions, having performred both in chamber ensembles and in large choirs. Not limited to singing sacred music, he has many times warmed audience performing folk and popular songs.
Ilya Tolchenov (bass)
Ilya has performed as a flautist, pianist and chorister both in the UK and Europe. Currently studying at the Mathematics Department of University College London, Ilya participates in various choirs and vocal ensembles. He has been working as a singer for a number of years, and since 2013 has been a member of the choir of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God (London), which has allowed him a deeper understanding of Orthodox church music.
Valery Proletarski (tenor)
Valery received his musical and technical education, first in Russia and then in the UK. He studied classical piano and singing, and has extensive experience in composition, arranging and producing musicians and bands of different genres. Valery has a bachelor's degree in "Automated Systems and Robotics" and a diploma in arranging and orchestration (Rostov College of Arts, Russia).
In the early 90s, he moved to London, where he studied at the London College of Music, obtaining a degree in production and sound engineering. Valery has over ten years' experience in various recording studios in London; and currently he works with Slipway studio. He has released several albums in the UK.
For more than two decades, Valery has been the principal tenor of the choir of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God (London).
Ivan Larin (bass)
Ivan has been singing in Russian sacred choirs since the age of twelve. The son of Orthodox clergy, Ivan has been immersed in the Russian choral tradition since birth. Ivan sang in the male choir of the Holy Trinity Monastery in upstate New York as a young adult and has since been a member of various choirs in New York, Moscow and Washington DC.
As a full time investment banker, Ivan uses his experience and passion for Russian sacred music in joining the male ensemble in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God in London on weekends, significant holidays and other events.
