Mayor previews In One A-Chord: Lexington Sacred Music Festival 2026
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“The Sacred Music Festival was originally part of our city’s 250th anniversary celebration, and we are excited to continue this wonderful event that showcases our city’s rich talent and history,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “Through the festival, our community can experience the richness of musical and fine arts offerings, while celebrating the people and traditions that make Lexington a special place.”
In One A-Chord: Lexington Sacred Music Festival is a week-long celebration of the music that fills Lexington’s churches, chapels, sanctuaries, museums, places of peace, nature preserves, and concert halls. The festival features more than 20 sacred music experiences open to all, held at a variety of venues throughout the city.
“Sacred music allows us to celebrate the immense talent in Lexington and the surrounding region,” said Dr. Everett McCorvey, executive producer of In One A-Chord. “We aim to highlight our commonality and the beauty in what makes us unique and different. This year we've expanded our efforts to include other art forms including poetry, storytelling, theatre, art and design, and literature in the hope that whatever ‘sacred’ means to an individual, they can find something to connect to during the Festival.”
St. Paul AME Church, a participating venue, is celebrating the bicentennial of its sanctuary and its inclusion on the National Park Services Underground Railroad Network to Freedom list. While Kentucky has other verified Underground Railroad locations, St. Paul AME stands out as the primary nationally recognized church structure in the state with this designation.
Historic St. Paul AME Church Pastor, Rev. Dr. Walter R. Henry, said, “Historic St Paul was established in 1820, long before the abolitionist movement was at its height. One of the survival mechanisms in our community was our music. It reminded us that there was hope, it called us to maintain faith, and it pushed us to see with our hearts in our spirits, and not just our eyes. Sacred music is more than entertainment; it gives us a foundation on which we can stand and proclaim even in 2026 we shall overcome.”
All In One A-Chord: Lexington Sacred Music Festival performances are free or low cost. For more information, visit https://www.sacredmusiclex.org.