Arts & Culture

Fall for UK Men's Chorus Extravaganza

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2010) − Join the 80-voice University of Kentucky Men's Chorus for a special concert 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, in Memorial Hall. The fourth annual Men's Chorus Fall Extravaganza is an event that has quickly become one of the most popular concerts at UK. Featuring the nationally-renowned UK Men's Chorus and the popular a cappella group the acoUstiKats, the Fall Extravaganza is an entertaining evening of all-male voices.

The Men's Chorus Fall Extravaganza will not only showcase UK's talented Men's Chorus and acoUstiKats, it will also feature special guests, the Kentuckians Chorus and the Rainmen.

The UK Men's Chorus, directed by Jefferson Johnson, has been making national news as one of the elite college choirs in the nation. In the last four years, they have been selected to perform at national conventions such as the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) in Salt Lake City, the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) in San Antonio, and the Intercollegiate Male Choruses (IMC) in Oxford, Ohio. This year, UK Men's Chorus has been invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) national convention in Chicago, which is the college choir equivalent of playing in a Final Four.

To watch a video of the UK Men's Chorus performing, visit YouTube online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqzvE2gd8us.

Johnson, director of choral activities, formed the all-male a cappella ensemble known as the acoUstiKats in 1993 during his first semester at UK. Each year, these 14 talented young men bring their distinctive sounds to events across the Commonwealth. Since its inception, the acoUstiKats have performed nearly 400 concerts for enthusiastic audiences throughout Kentucky and beyond. As part of the UK Men's Chorus, this popular group serves to promote and encourage male singing of all ages.

To watch a video of the acoUstiKats performing "Stand By Me," visit YouTube online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTQ5PZ5CSos.

The Kentuckians Chorus is the Lexington chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. As an all-male group, they excel in tight harmonies and entertaining arrangements.

The Rainmen, an award winning high school male a cappella group from Trinity Christian Academy in Lexington, will warm up the concert audience. The group will perform pre-show starting at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for the Men's Chorus Fall Extravaganza are $5 for students and children and $15 for adults and senior citizens. VIP tickets are also available for $30 and include preferred seating, reserved parking and a post-concert President's reception hosted by UK First Lady Patsy Todd at Maxwell Place. To purchase tickets, call the UK Student Center Ticket Office at (859) 257-8427 or visit any Ticketmaster location.