The concert and a pre-concert Italian buffet dinner will be a special fundraising event for the choirs’ planned two-week summer 2002 tour primary to Italy, but also Switzerland, and France. (Due to the present international situation, destinations of the tour may need to be changed.)

The concert is open to the public free of charge. In addition, tickets will be sold at several price ranges for those who wish to support choir members on the upcoming trip. Ticket prices are “Booster” - $10; “Friend” - $25, “Patron” - $50, and “Sponsor” - $100.

Papaleno’s restaurant, on the College Square, will serve a special Italian dinner from noon until 2:30 p.m. exclusively for Choir supporters prior to the concert. The menu will feature a choice (unlimited servings) of pastas, salad, and beverage. Music will be provided by Choir members who will serenade diners with Italian songs and arias. Dinner tickets are $10 per person. Two dinner tickets are included free with a $100 concert "Sponsor" ticket.

A variety of Italian music of different styles and from different periods will be on the musical menu as well. The choirs will perform Renaissance motets by Giovanni Croce; a Baroque cantata by G. B. Martini; a series of Ave Marias from various centuries by Don Carlo Gesualdo, Giuseppe Verdi, and Gioacchino Rossini; famous 19th century opera choruses by Pietro Mascagni and Giuseppe Verdi; and a Romantic part song by Rossini. Martini’s cantata, Domine ad adjunvandum me festina, scored for choir, soloists, organ and strings, will be accompanied by guest performers the Amythest Quartet, a student ensemble from the University of Kentucky.

Other featured pieces on the program include music by American composers Stephen Foster and Jester Hairston. Well-known songs including “ Gentle Annie” and “Beautiful Dreamer” will be sung in honor the 175th anniversary of Foster’s birth. Three spirituals, including the beloved “Steal Away,” will be sung in honor of the 100th anniversary of Hairston’s birth.

Concert and dinner tickets can be purchased in the Music Dept. Office (8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m.) and in the Alumni Building Lobby (11 am-1 pm) Monday - Friday beginning November 1. Concert tickets also will be sold at the door. Dinner tickets will also be available at Papaleno’s (108 Center St.), but ALL DINNER TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE.

The Choir invites everyone to enjoy beautiful music, a great Italian meal and be a supporter of the 2002 Concert Choir European Tour. All money from the sale of meal and concert tickets will go directly to the choir’s European Fund to help make the trip possible for choir members. Concert tickets are tax deductible. For more information, call (859) 985-3466.