COLUMBIA, Ky. – Nearly two decades ago, Lindsey Wilson College Director of College Choral Ensembles Gerald Chafin took the Lindsey Wilson Singers underground to perform at the Mammoth Cave National Park Cave Sing.
On Dec. 1, the Lindsey Wilson Singers will give their sixth performance at the popular musical holiday event. The Lindsey Wilson Singers will be one of three artists featured at the 45th annual Cave Sing, which will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, at Mammoth Cave National Park.
This year’s Cave Sing will also feature The Heart of Kentucky Chorus of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and trumpetist Hillary Sward.
“We’re always honored to represent Lindsey Wilson at grand occasions such as Cave Sing. Our students absolutely love the experience!” Chafin said. “It’s an incredible space to perform. The combination of the acoustics, the atmosphere, and the amazing vibe of the audience is the perfect secret sauce for a fantastic experience.”
The Cave Sing is free and open to the public. No tickets or reservations are required to attend, but attendees must meet the event guide behind the park visitor center at 2 p.m. to depart for the cave’s Historic Entrance. The group will walk about three-quarters of a mile round trip to reach the performance area. The access trail to the cave includes a steep outdoor hillside to and from the entrance with a total of 130 stairs.
No seating options are available at the performance, which will last about an hour. Light refreshments will be served immediately after the performance in the lobby of The Lodge at Mammoth Cave where there will also be a visit from Santa Claus.
“It’s been our experience over the years to learn and gain an understanding that it’s a combination of everything about the cave merging together that shapes the audience’s perspective and experience at the concert,” said Chafin. “Indeed, our sound has a unique acoustic that is created by the cave’s formations. But also, the atmosphere and lighting in the space where everyone gathers invites a feeling of community and peace that we all so desperately need.”
The 30-member Lindsey Wilson Singers will be accompanied by pianist Priscila Dickson, violinist Saelim Henderson and cellist Abby Oswald.
The Singers’ program will include “Bonse Aba,” a Zambian carol with percussion; the African-American spiritual “Keep Your Lamps”; “The 30 Second Fa-La-La,” a Christmas “fa-la-la” humor piece where the Singers will attempt to beat the clock, which Chafin will time with a stopwatch; and the classic carol “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
The Singers will close the program by leading a candle-lighting ceremony and inviting the audience to sing “Silent Night.”
“It has been my absolute honor over these years to work with the staff at Mammoth Cave National Park,” said Chafin. “Their team has been incredibly welcoming to the Lindsey Wilson College Singers and provided our students with such wonderful and inspiring experiences. We are truly grateful for this beautiful connection.”
