Less Than a Month to 'Post Time With the Pops'

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2011) − In less than a month, student musicians with the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra will share the stage with the legendary Boston Pops. "Post Time with the Pops," celebrating 75 years of racing at Keeneland, will take the stage Oct. 15, 2011, at Rupp Arena.

Exactly 75 years from the date Keeneland opened, America's Orchestra will join the critically acclaimed UK Symphony Orchestra for a tribute concert dedicated to the historic racetrack. This is the culmination of festivities celebrating Keeneland's 75th anniversary.

The Keeneland tribute, "Post Time with the Pops," will feature music that references the horse showcased in three distinct performance segments, as well as vignettes related to Keeneland's history. The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra will perform under the direction of Keith Lockhart and UK Symphony Orchestra will perform under the direction of John Nardolillo. Each orchestra will also perform one piece under the direction of the other conductor. The evening will conclude with both orchestras playing together.

Proceeds from the Boston Pops and UK Symphony Orchestra tribute concert presented in honor of Keeneland will go to the Lee T. Todd, Jr. and Patricia B. Todd Music Outreach Endowment. The endowment was created as part of a three-year commitment made by Maker's Mark and Keeneland to raise money for a unique extension program highlighting music outreach in schools throughout Kentucky.

The Boston Pops Orchestra was founded in 1885 as a subsection of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), founded four years earlier. Since its debut, BSO has established itself as one of the great orchestras of the world. Prior to Lockhart taking over the conductor's podium, the Boston Pops have been headed by the charismatic Arthur Fiedler and famous film score composer John Williams.

Since Nardolillo took the conductor's podium of the UK Symphony Orchestra, it has enjoyed great success racking up recording credits and sharing the stage with such acclaimed international artists as Lynn Harrell, Gil Shaham, Mark O'Connor, Sarah Chang, Marvin Hamlisch and Itzhak Perlman. The UK Symphony Orchestra is one of a very select group of university orchestras under contract with Naxos, the world's largest classical recording label. The orchestra is housed at the award-winning UK School of Music in the UK College of Fine Arts.

Founded in 1936, Keeneland is the world’s largest and most prestigious Thoroughbred auction house with four sales each year in January, April, September and November. It also conducts two of the premier racing meets each year in North America, in April and October. Moreover, Keeneland’s foundation has contributed nearly $20 million to equine research and safety efforts as well as health and education initiatives in Central Kentucky.

Ticket prices for "Post Time with the Pops" range from $25 to $100 plus processing fees. For VIP table seating information, please call (859) 257-7000. Tickets for this concert can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster Outlets, or at the Rupp Arena Box Office.

UK Symphony Orchestra will open their regular season this weekend. Their first concert, which is free and open to the public, will begin 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at the Singletary Center for the Arts.

 MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-8716 or whitney.hale@uky.edu