History

Barbershop music, with its close, a cappella four-part harmony, is a unique American folk art. Although no one can say precisely when or where barbershop music began, it was certainly given a boost between the 1860s and 1920s by the types of songs popular at the time - songs characterized by sentimental lyrics and uncomplicated melodies that could be harmonized with a variety of four-part chords.

The barbershop harmony of today is a highly-stylized art form requiring the same high degree of singing skill as other types of choral music, and as the popularity of barbershop harmony has grown, so has the type of participation. Choruses ranging in size from 15 to 150 or more members have found this singing style a challenging and exciting musical experience.

Pride of Kentucky Chorus was founded on June 1st, 1983, and chartered only six months later on January 9, 1984. Of the original 48 charter members, 13 are still members. Our members range in age from teens to seniors and represent the spectrum of the many aspects of today's women. Our members are professional, technical, clerical, educators, students, super-moms and grandmas. Over the years we have had multiple members from the same families with mother-daughter and sister combinations throughout the chorus.

Notable Performances

Among the hundreds of performances Pride of Kentucky has presented over the years, most notable are:

• A greeting spot from the home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, on ABC's Good Morning, America;
• WHAS-TV's 40-plus-year tradition, annual Crusade for Children telethon several times;
• Kentucky Derby Festival Events:
  • Governor's Breakfast in Frankfort,
  • They're Off! Luncheon, the kick-off event, in Louisville,
  • Kentucky Derby Festival Parade float preview for the past several years, and
  • Derby Festival Picnic in the Park;
• Christmas at the Downs, Churchill Downs' Christmas Festival, three times;
• Holiday Spirit Christmas Festivals on Channel 15 (PBS), both times;
• Kentucky Center for the Arts Christmas special events;
• Iroquois Amphitheater summer events series.

Other activities include:

• A Taste of Frankfort Avenue - each year the Pride of Kentucky Chorus volunteers to work at this annual event sponsored by the Clifton Center for the Arts.