Fall Extravaganza of Male Vocal Talents to Fill Lexington Church
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2015) — It's raining male vocal talents at the 2015 University of Kentucky Men’s Chorus Fall Extravaganza. The chorus will perform alongside the acoUstiKats, Tates Creek High School Men’s Chorus, and The Kentuckians barbershop chorus in the popular annual concert beginning 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Tates Creek Presbyterian Church, located at 3900 Rapid Run Drive, in Lexington.
The UK Men’s Chorus is an 80-voice ensemble composed of students who range from freshmen to graduate students conducted by Jefferson Johnson, director of UK Choral Activities. These young men represent a variety of musical backgrounds and academic disciplines. Begun in the fall of 2002, the Men’s Chorus has grown in size and popularity each semester. The choir’s challenging and diverse repertoire includes literature that spans from Gregorian chant to music of the 21st century. Rehearsing only twice weekly, the UK Men’s Chorus maintains an active performing schedule throughout the state of Kentucky, touring each semester. Most recently, the chorus visited the state capital, Frankfort, where they sang at several local high schools and in the Capitol for Governor Steve Beshear.
The acoUstiKats, founded in 1993 by Johnson as a subsection of the UK Men’s Chorus, are the premier all-male a cappella ensemble in the state of Kentucky. This group of men has been featured on national television as a part of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” season four and has performed in countless venues across the United States from the shores of Hawaii to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.
Founded in 1960, The Kentuckians Chorus is Lexington's chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society (Cardinal District). The chorus performs throughout the year at community events, and offers opportunities through their Youth in Harmony workshop for high school and college aged men. The group competes regularly, and has received many awards within the district.
The Tates Creek High School Men’s Chorus is conducted by Nick Johnson, a graduate of the UK Men’s Chorus and a former member of the acoUstiKats. He is a noted arranger for a cappella groups nationally.
Tickets for the concert are only available at the door, and are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and children.
For more information on the Men's Chorus Fall Extravaganza or the UK Men’s Chorus, contact Joseph Wrightson, administrative assistant to UK Choirs, at wrightson.joseph@gmail.com.
UK's Men's Chorus and acoUstiKats are part of the UK School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts. The school has garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, composition, and theory and music history.
MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu