Bela Fleck Returns to Singletary Center With Celebrated Artists Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain, Rakesh Chaurasia
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 30, 2019) — As the celebration for 40 years of great performances continues, the University of Kentucky Singletary Center for the Arts will present one of its audiences' favorites — Bela Fleck. This time the award-winning artist will be joined in concert by noted artists Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain and Rakesh Chaurasia 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, in the Singletary Center Concert Hall.
From childhood passion to premiere banjo player, Bela Fleck has been performing for over 40 years and takes banjo playing to unlikely places. Rather than just performing bluegrass, country and “newgrass,” Fleck crosses over into classical, jazz, pop and world music. The 15-time Grammy Award-winning artist has received nominations in more categories than any other artist in Grammy history. A creative powerhouse, Fleck shares his gift with the musical world.
Recognized as a classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order and serving as one of India’s reigning cultural ambassadors, Zakir Hussain continuously contributes to the contemporary music world. Throughout his career, Hussain has collaborated with such celebrated artists as George Harrison, Van Morrison and Herbie Hancock. For the past several years, this international phenomenon has written multiple concertos on commission for the Symphony Orchestra of India, The Nashville Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Edgar Meyer, a solo classical bassist, is a MacArthur Fellow and six-time Grammy Award winner. He is considered a gem in the musical world as both a composer and performer. Meyer has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, Mark O’Connor, Sam Bush and Joshua Bell. He has been praised in The New Yorker as “… the most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively unchronicled history of his instrument.” Meyer’s musical capability and love for his craft make him an excellent performer that is sure to impress.
Rakesh Chaurasia has dominated the flute world and filled the shoes of his flute maestro uncle, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Rakesh evolved an approach to playing that maintains the purity of the flute while capturing the attention of young listeners. He has received numerous awards and accolades, and performs at venues across the world as both a classical and experimental flautist. Overall, Rakesh is a definite crowd pleaser and an innovator in the flute world.
General tickets for the concert are $46-$36 depending on seating location. UK faculty, staff and student tickets are $20 with a valid UK ID at the box office. Tickets can be purchased online at www.SCFATickets.com, by phone at 859-257-4929 or in person at the Singletary Center ticket office.
A part of the College of Fine Arts and essential to the UK School of Music, the Singletary Center for the Arts presents and hosts artistic, cultural and educational events for the university community, Lexington community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Named on April 16, 1987, for the retiring eighth president of the university, the center has become a major cultural resource for the Commonwealth. From its opening on Nov. 1, 1979, the center has accomplished Singletary's wish to provide a succession of brilliant performances in its Concert and Recital Halls, which constitute impressive evidence of the University of Kentucky's continuing commitment to the arts. Hosting an average of 400 events annually, the Singletary Center has served over 3.7 million patrons in its history. The center provides professional, full-service venues for the creation, practical application and dissemination of artistic, cultural and educational expressions by international, national, regional, university and student performers, artists and speakers.