Kaitlyn Lusk coming home to sing
By SANDRA STONE “When I found out I was going to be doing Louisville, I was really excited,” said Kaitlyn Lusk, who is touring as the female soloist in the Lord of the Rings Symphony, which she will perform with the Louisville Orchestra Jan. 19 and 20. “It’s my first time in Louisville, and I’m really excited.” Lusk is the daughter of Mark and Patrice (Powers) Lusk, both of whom were born and reared in Meade County and still have the majority of their family here. “It’s like a second home,” said Kaitlyn of her parents’ childhood home that feels like home to her as well. “My mom and dad have always called it home,” she said. “The house in State College, Pa., is the house; Brandenburg is home.” Kaitlyn, a senior in high school, is balancing both a professional musical career and life as a student. She’s been able to travel across the country and abroad, briefly stopping for a phone interview while preparing for a trip to perform in Germany. “I’ve been able to meet so many great people,” she said of her experiences, but she also said it’s important to remember where you come from. “My family have all kept me really grounded. Many may remember her appearance a couple of years ago during the Summer Concert Series cosponsored by the Meade County Museum and Arts Council and the Meade County Public Library. “That was fun, being able to come back and see all the family,” she said. “There’s always some family member I haven’t met. It’s nice to be able to come back and do that.” And now she’s coming back home again, this time to perform with the Louisville Orchestra. “The Lord of the Rings Symphony is a symphonic performance, a conglomeration of all the music from the three movies,” she explained. “One of the coolest things about it is they go through the whole story through the music.” Images from the movies and original drawings will be projected onto a large screen. “It’s a lot different from anything a lot of people have seen because it’s such a big, big production,” she said. As the female soloist, Kaitlyn is on stage for the majority of the symphony as she and the director lead the audience on their epic journey. But, said Kaitlyn those interested in taking this journey with her need to act fast. “I come from a family of seven kids, and my mom comes from a family of 10, most of whom still live in Kentucky,” she said. “So if any of you folks plan to attend the performance, you’d better get your tickets now because my family is going to take over the house!” For more information about the performance, log onto www.kaitlynlusk.com where you’ll find information about her and a link to the Louisville Orchestra. After the Saturday night concert, Kaitlyn will get to spend some time with the Powers family, including church Sunday morning at St. Martin. “I’ll be able to have at least a day with Grandma and all the folks.”
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Photo courtesy of Mark Lusk