Arts & Culture

'Tis the Season for UK Choirs' 'Collage'

"Collage" returns to the Singletary Center stage Dec. 4-5.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 24, 2021) — It’s the time of year for celebrating in the sound of joy and holiday cheer at the University of Kentucky Choirs 23rd annual “Collage: A Holiday Spectacular,” Dec. 4-5, at the Singletary Center for the Arts Concert Hall.   

“Collage” is a time-honored holiday tradition for Central Kentucky audiences. This fast-paced and visually exciting concert featuring more than 500 celebrated vocalists and musicians from the UK School of Music and the Lexington Singers Children’s Choir returns to the Singletary Center stage in front of live audiences to perform holiday favorites from close to home and around the globe.   

“Collage” is presented by the UK Choirs under the direction of Jefferson Johnson, director of UK Choral Activities, and Lori Hetzel, associate director of UK Choral Activities. The concerts showcase the department's highly praised student groups: UK Chorale; UK Choristers conducted by Elizabeth Wilson; UK Women's Choir; and UK Men's Chorus, as well as the UK Choirs' a cappella groups, the acoUstiKats, Paws and Listen and Blue Note

Along with the UK Choirs, this season’s concerts will feature performances by Associate Professor Dieter Hennings on guitar; the UK Trombone Quartet led by Associate Professor Bradley Kerns; UK Tuba Quintet directed by Assistant Professor Matthew Hightower; Mega-Sax led by Director of Jazz Studies Miles Osland; UK Blue Steel, a steel drum band led by Professor James Campbell; UK Holiday Clarinets led by Associate Professor Scott Wright; and crowd favorite, the Grasscats, a bluegrass band led by Johnson. UK Choirs alumnus and celebrated tenor Gregory Turay will be the featured soloist for the concert’s performance of “O Holy Night.” 

In addition to showcasing the UK Choirs and musicians at the UK School of Music, each year "Collage" features the rich talents of the Lexington arts community. UK will welcome back to the stage the Lexington Singers Children's Choir, conducted by Hetzel and UK Choirs alumnus Daniel Wesley, for several songs. The programs will also include appearances by choral groups from East Jessamine High School, directed by UK alum Demetrius Walker; Lafayette High School, directed by Ryan Marsh; and Franklin County High School, directed by UK Choirs alum Raye Hurley. 

“Collage” will help the Bluegrass rejoice in the holiday spirit beginning 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, at the Singletary Center Concert Hall. Tickets for "Collage" are $31 for adults and $17 for students, plus processing fees. Tickets are available through the Singletary Center ticket office by phone at 869-257-4929, online at www.scfatickets.com or in person at the box office.   

In the interest of maintaining a safe environment for audiences, performers, and venue staff, the Singletary Center requests that all audience members, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, remain masked at all times. Please be aware that musicians may be performing unmasked during this concert. The Singletary Center and College of Fine Arts thank all of our audience members for their cooperation. 

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.