UK Men's Chorus, Women's Choir Spring into Concert

UK Women's Choir singing "Pie Jesu" at Ely Cathedral. A transcription of this video can be found here. 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 25, 2015) — As the University of Kentucky's Women’s Choir prepares for their summer tour to Spain and the Men’s Chorus returns to their home stage fresh off their heralded performance at the American Choral Director’s Association National Convention in Salt Lake City, the ensembles will come together in a concert of mutual commendation and celebration. The UK Women's Choir and Men's Chorus Spring Concert will begin 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the Singletary Center for the Arts.

"Gaudete" performed by the UK Men's Chorus. Video courtesy of American Choral Directors Association. A transcript of this video can be seen here.

At the spring concert, the UK Men’s Chorus will perform a variety of works including the medieval Irish chant “Christus Resurgens,” Richard Burchard’s “Tenebrae” and guest conductor and UK doctoral candidate J.D. Frizzell’s composition “i thank you God for most this amazing day” based on a poem by E. E. Cummings. A composer, conductor and baritone, Frizzell is the director of Fine Arts and director of Vocal Music at Briarcrest Christian School.

The concert will also include selections sung by the UK Women’s Choir from Spanish composers to celebrate their trip to Spain in June 2015. Among the works to be performed will be “Gloria” by Ola Gjeilo and “O Magnum Mysterium” by Tomás Luis de Victoria.

In addition to the Men’s Chorus and Women’s Choir, the a cappella groups acoUstiKats and Paws and Listen will also perform.

The UK Women’s Choir, directed by Lori Hetzel, is a select ensemble composed of more than 100 of the school’s most talented female voices. The singers, ranging from freshmen to graduate students, represent a variety of musical backgrounds and academic disciplines. The choir’s challenging and diverse repertoire includes literature spanning from Gregorian chant to eight-part music of the 21st Century. With an emphasis on music by female composers, the ensemble performs works of many different languages and compositional forms. The UK Women’s Choir has achieved many distinguished honors and performed in countless venues worldwide.

The UK Men’s Chorus, directed by Jefferson Johnson, is a 90-voice ensemble composed of students who range from freshmen to graduate students. The young men represent a variety of musical backgrounds and academic disciplines. Founded in fall 2002, the Men’s Chorus has grown in size and popularity each semester. The choir’s challenging and diverse repertoire includes literature that spans from Gregorian chant to music of the 21st century. Rehearsing only twice weekly, the Men’s Chorus maintains an active performing schedule throughout the state of Kentucky, touring each semester.

Tickets for the UK Women's Choir and UK Men's Chorus Spring Concert are $10 for general admission. The tickets may be purchased via the Singletary Center ticket office online, by phone at 859-257-4929, or in person at the ticket office.

UK Choirs are a part of the UK School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts. The choral ensembles have garnered international attention with appearances at Carnegie Hall (New York City), Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), Mormon Tabernacle (Salt Lake City), Orchestra Hall (Chicago), St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome, Italy) and St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Vienna, Austria). 

For more information on the concert, contact Evan Pulliam, administrative assistant for UK Choirs, at evan.pulliam@uky.edu.             

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu