Manhattan Transfer -- (L-R) Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne and Alan Paul -- will perform a Christmas show with conductor John Nardolillo and a small local Orchestra as part of the Singletary Center's Signature Series.
A jazz legend and another marquee soloist for the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra are highlights of the Signature Series lineup at UK’s Singletary Center for the Arts. If the name sounds new, center director Michael Grice says that’s because he aimed to combine some of the best elements of the center’s several series — Corner on Classics, Turning the Corner and even Spotlight Jazz — into one series that would offer a broad spectrum of artists.
Leading off the season will be trumpet celebrity Wynton Marsalis (photo, left) and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, on Oct. 4. For Valentine’s Day, the UK Symphony Orchestra will perform with hot young violinist Gil Shaham (photo, right), who will play Igor Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in D, which he will perform five days later with the Cleveland Orchestra.
“If we can get artists here, not just to perform, but also match them with students and faculty, that’s nurturing the arts in our community,” 
said Grice, who paired the UK Symphony with cello legend Lynn Harrell last season.
Grice said that UK Symphony director John Nardolillo and a small orchestra of local musicians will accompany The Manhattan Transfer in its Christmas concert here, on Dec. 20.
Here’s the full schedule of concerts, most of which are on weekend nights:
- Oct. 4: Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
- Oct. 23: Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa.
- Nov. 8: Andrea Marcovicci’s Love Songs of World War II.
- Nov. 12: José Porcel and Ballet Flamenco.
- Dec. 20: Manhattan Transfer holiday concert.
- Jan. 30: Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Feb. 14: Violinist Gil Shaham with the UK Symphony Orchestra.
- March 13: Blue Note Jazz Tour.
Tickets for the series go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, May 5, at the Singletary Center ticket office. Call (859) 257-4929 or go to www.singletarytickets.com. The center has changed its fee structure for the series, pricing tickets according to seat location instead of by status such as student, UK faculty and staff, etc.
“All the same prices are still available,” Grice said. “It’s just according to where you sit now.” He said that brings the Singletary Center’s pricing policies in line with most other performing arts centers and even groups that use the Singletary Center, such as the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra.
The center will offer five ticket packages, from all eight concerts to three shows, and ranging in price from $88 to $272. For complete pricing information and an order form, go to the Singletary Center website.
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