CHS employee performs with Yo-Yo Ma in Mammoth Cave

By Ryan Clark

CHS Communications Director

On April 29, 2023, the Louisville Orchestra and members of the Louisville Chamber Choir performed in Mammoth Cave alongside world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma to celebrate the rich history of Mammoth Cave.

Under the direction of conductor and composer Teddy Abrams, Haley DeWitt, a speech-language pathologist and singing voice specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences’ Voice and Swallow Clinic, (along with Dylon Crain, Alltech Vocal Scholar and nontraditional student in the College of Fine Arts) were hand-picked to sing with the choir the day of the event.

DeWitt, who has been singing with the Louisville Chamber Choir for 10 years, said the experience was like a "dream."

"This experience is one I will be thinking about for a long time," DeWitt said. "Being immersed in the cave and its history, alongside the Louisville Orchestra and Yo-Yo Ma, was truly a dream-like experience. We spent hours upon hours preparing for and envisioning what it might be like, and when the time finally came, it was more than I could have imagined."

About 1,000 lucky fans — some of whom applied from as far away as Europe — came out to listen to the two performances.

The choir told the story of the cave’s explorers, as well as its role in the War of 1812 as a source of saltpeter for gunpowder manufacturing.

"The energy was tangible, and the atmosphere was unforgettable," DeWitt said. "I am incredibly proud to have been a part of this historic event. A huge thanks goes to my colleagues at the Voice and Swallow Clinic for all their support and encouragement."