Voices in Harmony Brings to UK Three of Nation's Best A Capella Groups

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 11, 2015) — Voices in Harmony, a two-day a cappella festival, will culminate with a public concert featuring some of the best a cappella acts in the nation including The House Jacks, Musae and University of Kentucky's own Acoustikats, national finalists on NBC's "The Sing Off" in 2013. The concert, presented by the UK Choirs in association with the A Cappella Educators Association, will begin 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the Singletary Center for the Arts Concert Hall.  

The fifth annual Voices in Harmony A Cappella Festival is making its UK debut after starting at Lexington Catholic High School. The festival has grown each year and has supported the formation and growth of dozens of a cappella groups across the region.

This year more 300 participants from more than 20 local and regional middle schools, high schools, universities and community choirs will experience thrilling performance, dynamic clinics and engaging educational workshops.

A high school group competition will be held as part of the festival at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 13, at Lexington Catholic High School, and will include performances by UK Acoustikats and Paws and Listen, UK's popular female a cappella group.  

The House Jacks is known as “the original rock band without instruments” (San Francisco Chronicle) that creates powerful original music using only their five voices. The band’s vocal innovations laid the groundwork for the current a cappella renaissance, and their music can be heard in the movie “Pitch Perfect,” on the television show “The Sing Off” (U.S., China, Netherlands and France) and on radio stations around the world. The House Jacks continue to electrify audiences with their pioneering sound, powerful original songs, dynamic versions of popular songs and their incomparable “Human Jukebox,” a popular part of their act where they take requests from the audience. 

Musae singing "Electric Lady" O.P.B. Janelle Monae at the Hong Kong A Cappella Dinner 2014.

Founded in 2011, Musae has gained acclaim performing at a cappella festivals across the nation. As a powerhouse all-female vocal band, Musae shares a fresh and fun sound while playing on their sense of femininity and womanhood. True to the original Latin, these “muses” seek not to just inspire but also breathe new life into the professional vocal scene in the U.S. and abroad. Most of their singers have been prominently featured in groups on NBC’s “The Sing Off.”

Founded in 1993, by Jefferson Johnson as a subsection of the UK Men’s Chorus, the acoUstiKats are the premier all-male a cappella ensemble in the state of Kentucky. Following their success on “The Sing-Off,” the Acoustikats decided to form a professional vocal band following in the footsteps of notable all-male groups like Straight No Chaser and they have performed in countless venues across the U.S. The professional group features current UK students and alumni from the ensemble.

Tickets for the Voices in Harmony concert featuring The House Jacks, Musae and the Acoustikats range from $15-25 with a discount for groups of 15 or more. To purchase tickets, contact the Singletary Center for the Arts box office online at www.scfaticket.com or call 859-257-4929. 

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 Voice in Harmony festivities, contact Adam Beeken, at ajbeeken@gmail.com, or visit online at www.voicesinharmony.net.

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