UK Opera Theatre

The University of Kentucky Opera Theatre, formed in 1955, has risen to a position of prominence. There are on average 125 vocal performance majors at the University of Kentucky. Students come to UK from all over the world to study voice and opera performance. We are excited to be at an all-time artistic and academic high. The UK Opera Theatre and Voice program competes with Julliard, Indiana University, Cincinnati Conservatory and Eastman School of Music for students. As evidenced in last fall’s Metropolitan Opera Competition where UK Students took three of the top six prizes, we are winning! Dr. Everett McCorvey, Producer and Executive Director, credits the success of the program to talented faculty, staff & professional guest artists from across the country working as a team to help students achieve their potential as singers, scholars and citizens.

UK Opera Theatre has attracted national and international attention with the development of the SCRIBE Technology used in our production of Porgy and Bess, and amazing collaborations with the San Francisco Merola Program in the World Premiere of Thomas Pasatieri's The Hotel Casablanca and with the Dicapo Opera Theatre of New York to present the World Premiere of Thomas Pasatieri's God Bless Us Everyone. UKOT also presented the University Premiere of Rachel Perlman’s The Little Prince and André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire. UK Opera Theatre has also collaborated with Chautauqua Opera, The Atlanta Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Sarasota Opera, Central City Opera and several other opera companies and orchestras. UKOT reached new heights and firmly established itself as one of America’s premier opera programs with the February 2009 performance of Our Lincoln at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The show was one of the first major national events marking Lincoln’s 200th birthday. Six months later, singers from UK Opera Theatre traveled to England and Ireland to perform in the European Jumping and Dressage Championship Gala Celebration at Windsor Castle. More recently, singers from UK Opera Theatre wowed the crowd at the Alltech 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, KY. The Opening Ceremonies, produced by Everett McCorvey, was viewed by over 500 million people worldwide. The performance included opera superstar Denyce Graves and UKOT’s own superstars, faculty member and Metropolitan Opera star Cynthia Lawrence and Metropolitan Opera Tenor, UK grad and current Artist-in-Residence Gregory Turay.

UK Opera Theatre has made four recordings for Albany Records. The Tenderland by Aaron Copland, recorded in the Czech Republic with the Bohsulav Martinu Philharmonic in 2002, Kirk Trevor, conducting. The Hotel Casablanca, by Thomas Pasatieri was recorded in 2008; Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss was recorded in 2010, the first English recording in over 50 years, and Thomas Pasatieri’s God Bless Us Everyone was recorded in December 2010, all with the UK Symphony Orchestra, John Nardolillo conducting.

UK Opera Theatre performances take place at the historic Lexington Opera House, a 900 seat theatre, in downtown Lexington. Lexington's beautiful and newly renovated facility is the perfect size to accommodate young operatic voices. Students also gain experience working with its professional union crew.

The goal of UK Opera Theatre is to bring the highest quality productions to the Central Kentucky audience while striving to become the "Best Young Artist Vocal Training Program in America."

University of Kentucky Opera
Everett McCorvey, Director
Joan Rue, Program Coordinator
Schmidt Vocal Arts Center
412 Rose St
Lexington Kentucky 40508
859-257-9331
ukopera@gmail.com