'Behind the Blue': Everett McCorvey combines passion for performance, teaching into role with UK Opera Theatre

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Everett McCorvey sitting in a podcast recording studio
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 7, 2024) — For more than three decades, Everett McCorvey, D.M.A., has been the driving force as director of UK Opera Theatre, which is part of the School of Music at the University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts. The school has earned a national reputation for excellence in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as in music education, music therapy, composition, theory and music history.

As the first Black American to earn a doctoral degree in music from the University of Alabama, McCorvey is personally committed to creating opportunities for UK students from diverse backgrounds to thrive.

One of McCorvey’s most renowned projects is “It’s A Grand Night for Singing!”, a vibrant, high-energy musical showcase featuring hits from Broadway and beyond. Since its inception in 1992, “Grand Night” has captivated audiences with its Emmy Award-winning performances, highlighting the best of Broadway both past and present.

On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” McCorvey shares insights into his upbringing in Montgomery, Alabama, the experiences that motivated him to pursue both performance and teaching and offers a preview of this year’s “Grand Night” lineup.

“Behind the Blue” is available on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

Transcripts for this or other episodes of “Behind the Blue” can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

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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.