Wildcats and Vols to Join in Song as UK Men’s Chorus Unites With UT for Choral Extravaganza
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 26, 2017) — While the University of Kentucky and University of Tennessee (UT) may be rivals in the upcoming football game, the pair will be united in song on Friday, Oct. 27, as the UK Men’s Chorus presents its Fall Extravaganza with the UT Men’s Chorale. The concert will begin 7:30 p.m., at Calvary Baptist Church, and will feature performances by both ensembles, as well as a cappella groups — acoUstiKats and VOLume.
The UK Men’s Chorus, directed by Jefferson Johnson, frequently has featured choirs from other schools on its concert programs. Last year’s Fall Extravaganza featured the Scott County High School Men’s Choir, and in spring of 2016 the chorus performed a joint concert with Ohio University’s Singing Men. The UT Men’s Chorale, directed by Jaclyn M. Johnson, will be this year’s guest.
Both ensembles sing a wide variety of music and this concert will include several unique pieces, such as a “Kentucky Medley” by the UK Men’s Chorus. In addition to the schools' separate programs for the concert, the ensembles will perform together for a joint piece featuring all of the voices from both groups. The a cappella groups, acoUstiKats and VOLume, will also perform selections they sing at events throughout the year.
The UK Men’s Chorus is composed of approximately 80 undergraduate and graduate voices from an array of different majors. Having performed at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference, as well as the Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference, the UK Men’s Chorus maintains a high standard of excellence. Its auditioned a cappella group, the acoUstiKats, are nationally recognized and perform at many prestigious events around the Commonwealth.
The UT Men’s Chorale is an ensemble open to all men at UT and has a choral tradition that includes a large variety of musical styles — all written for male voices. The chorale frequently performs at campus events, sometimes combining with other UT ensembles. Additionally, the ensemble has been a part of the chorus-in-residence program for the International Cathedral Music Festival at Oxford University. Its all-male a cappella group, VOLume, was formed in 2009 and presents a variety of current songs in an a cappella style.
Tickets for the Fall Extravaganza can be purchased at Calvary Baptist Church the night of the concert and are $5 for children and students and $10 for adults. Calvary Baptist Church is located at 150 East High St.
The UK Men’s Chorus and the acoUstiKats are just two of several ensembles housed at the UK School of Music in the UK College of Fine Arts. The school has garnered national recognition for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, composition, music therapy, theory and music history.