The Kentucky Youth Chorale will open its season with a concert titled “Pasta and Pops” on Tuesday evening. The concert marks a change in format from previous years, blending the dinner with the performance.
The concert and dinner begin at 6 p.m. in the Fireside Room of Third Baptist Church at 527 Allen Street. A limited number of tickets remain available. Tickets can be purchased through any KYC participant or by emailing [email protected]. Priced at $15, tickets include a spaghetti dinner, dessert, and a performance by the chorale.
“Normally, we have a formal concert and a dinner reception afterward,” said Madison Wells, director of the Kentucky Youth Chorale. “This year, we’re combining them, so the kids will be singing while the audience is eating. It’s a different experience for both the performers and the audience.”
Wells emphasized that those who cannot secure a dinner ticket are still welcome to enjoy the music.
“We don’t want people to be discouraged from coming to hear the kids. We’ll set up chairs so people can still enjoy the concert,” she said, noting donations are welcomed.
With just six rehearsals under their belts since the season began in late August, the young singers, ranging in age from 7 to 16, are preparing a program of popular songs, including “Home” by Phillip Phillips, “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors, and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens.
“It’s a more relaxed atmosphere, which takes some of the pressure off the kids this early in the season,” Wells added. “We thought it would be fun for them to do something different and have a chance to make music with each other and the community.”
The Kentucky Youth Chorale, which consists of 37 members this year, typically hosts three major concerts each season. Following “Pasta and Pop,” their next performances will include a Christmas concert at St. Stephen and a spring concert with a bluegrass and barbecue theme in April. The group is also set to perform at the lighting of Owensboro’s Christmas tree and travel to Cincinnati for the Queen City Choral Festival next summer.
For families interested in joining the chorale, Wells noted that auditions for the second semester will be held in January.
