Music Education

Adult Community Classes

Fine Arts Institute | dates vary, in person
Classes and workshops are open to the public age 18 and up from woodworking, metalworking, ceramics, textiles, digital art, and more

Story by Mark Mozingo, UKNow

The Rogers Scholarship was established by distinguished alumnus Wayland D. Rogers, a renowned singer, conductor, teacher and composer based in Chicago, Illinois, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music from UK in 1963. The scholarship will support senior music performance students who exhibit excellence in art songs or solo music with piano accompaniment.  

There doesn’t seem to be enough superlatives to describe Tyler Swick’s energetic, entertaining and exhilarating teaching style. And accolades from parents and colleagues are just as numerous.  In several of his “40 Under 40” nomination letters, parents called him a “musical magician” and that “his work ethic knows no bounds when it comes to ensuring he gets a smile out of a few extra kiddos.” Another parent simply stated, “It doesn’t feel like learning when it’s this fun!”

Story by Peter Giles/Giles Communication

Only 10 outstanding schools nationwide earned the prestigious designation this year.

Yamaha is committed to working with the University of Kentucky in substantive ways for the long-term growth and benefit of its music students and faculty. The Institution of Excellence program is tailored to respond to each honoree’s unique mission and the designation unlocks benefits for the institution, its faculty and its students.

The UK Women’s Choir planned an event in spring of 2020 to celebrate Dr. Hetzel’s 25th Anniversary with the School of Music. Due to COVID-19 that event was cancelled. A virtual celebration was held instead during a Women's Choir rehearsal. Tegan Miller jumped at the chance to Zoom in.

Both passionate music educators, Dr. Vasil and Dee share some insights into what their experience has been teaching music virtually this year, and reflect on some of their favorite moments together as teacher-student. 

“Nearly as soon as the outbreak began to have its effects here in the United States, Caitlin reached out to me and asked if I would be willing to help her put together a virtual choir,” said Vanover, who is currently Director of Choirs at Lexington Catholic High School.  “I am very proud of Caitlin, who is a former choir student of mine at Lexington Catholic.”

Dr. Justin Vickers received his Master's of Music in vocal performance from UK in 2000. After leaving the University of Kentucky, Dr. Vickers, now Associate Professor of Voice at Illinois State University, earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance and Literature, while completing the coursework for the Ph.D. in historical musicology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE GRADUATING FROM UK in 2015?