30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
UKAEF Members celebrated their 30-year history as an Association with a U.K. Opera Theater Showpiece at the Hilary J. Boone Center during their April 2019 General Membership meeting and noon luncheon. Dr. Everett McCorvey, tenor soloist, conductor and professor of voice at U.K., founder and music director of the American Spiritual Ensemble, director and producer of University of Kentucky Opera Theater, president of Global Creative Connections, and artistic director of National Chorale arranged for U.K. Opera Theatre (UKOT) to entertain guests at the luncheon gala. Students who participated included: Houston Tyrrell, Taylor P. Comstock, Marquita Richardson and Junghyun Lee.
(left to right) Taylor P. Comstock, Marquita Richardson, Houston Tyrrell, Junghyun Lee
Tedrin Blair Lindsey, U.K. Opera Faculty, pianist and musicologist, served as the student's professional accompanist (a role he has excelled at since he was 10 years old). Dr. Lindsey reminded UKAEF guests how the Opera Theater at U.K. began in 1955 under the direction of voice teacher Phyllis Jenness and Phillip Miller, director of U.K. Symphony Orchestra. Since then it has risen to its position today as one of the leading opera programs in North America, largely because of the boundless energy and vision of Drs. McCorvey and Lindsey.
Dr. Lindsey described to luncheon attendees the accomplishments of UKOT and the support that students can receive with scholarships and financial aid. He emphasized the significance of the Pearse Lyons Scholarship gifts totaling more than $400,000 and $100,000 in cash awards given to student winners of the Alltech Vocal Scholarship competition which Dr. Lyons founded. The four performers at the April 9, 2019 luncheon celebration were outstanding young singers. There was wonderful music from wonderful young people to celebrate the excellence of UK's voice program and the UKAEF anniversary. Pearse Lyons' quote, "Do what makes your heart sing", his boundless energy, his great love for Kentucky and U.K. was felt in the 30th Anniversary celebration of UKAEF - enhanced by the Hilary J. Boone Center luncheon menu featuring a Kentucky meal of fried chicken, corn pudding, asparagus, bourbon chocolate pecan pie, and champagne.