Orchestra Kentucky of Bowling Green to celebrate 20 years with outdoor concert

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- Orchestra Kentucky of Bowling Green is now planning a return to the stage after a months-long hiatus due to covid-19. The news is music to the ears of music director Jeff Reed, along with all the board members playing a role in the comeback.

“It’s been since February since we’ve performed. That’s a long time for a musician to not be on the stage, so we’re all very excited,” Reed said.

“At the beginning, it was so heartbreaking to have to cancel some of the concerts we had scheduled with Orchestra Kentucky and not knowing what that was going to look like coming up,” added Orchestra Kentucky board member Mandy Hicks.

The performance is planned for Aug. 28 at the National Corvette Museum amphitheater. The theme will be Summer Blockbusters, including music from Jaws, Back to the Future and more.  The show was recently approved by local health professionals and government authorities. Safety guidelines will be in place for attendees, like temperature screenings and distancing measures.

“We approached the governor with a very detailed outline plan for how we are going to go about keeping people safe and healthy at an outdoor concert, and he gave us the approval,” Hicks said.

With a big show now in the works, Reed looks back on the early days of Orchestra Kentucky, and how far the group has come in two decades.

“The amount of growth in 20 years is remarkable, and it’s due really to the support of businesses and individuals in our region who have supported us,” Reed said.

Reed said for a musician, the stage is home, and the time to return home is coming up very soon.

“Being back on the stage is going to feel like returning home. I’ve done hundreds of concerts in my life, and there’s nothing better than to entertain and enrich people,” Reed said.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public Aug. 3.