You can see Yo-Yo Ma, Louisville Orchestra live in Mammoth Cave for $1: How to get tickets

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Yo-Yo Ma has performed in a lot of iconic venues, including numerous national parks, but this is one for the ages.

This spring, the world-renowned cellist will join the Louisville Orchestra and Louisville Chamber Choir for two free concerts inside Mammoth Cave, the largest cave system in the world.

"Music has been an important part of Mammoth Cave’s over 200-year modern history with classical musicians, choirs, and contemporary artists composing and often performing their music inside the cave," the National Park Service said in a press release, noting that Louisville Orchestra music director Teddy Abrams composed this event's music specifically for the cave and with Ma in mind.

"Abrams spent the last year exploring Mammoth Cave National Park and immersing himself into the cave’s geology and human history to gain inspiration from the sights and sounds of the park."

The free concerts aren't until April, but the lottery window for tickets opens Jan. 30.

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Yo-Yo Ma performs during a concert called "The Bach Project" at the Monumento a la Revolucion in Mexico City on March 26, 2019.
Yo-Yo Ma performs during a concert called "The Bach Project" at the Monumento a la Revolucion in Mexico City on March 26, 2019.

When are the concerts?

There will only be two concerts inside Mammoth Cave.

They'll be held on April 29 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The performances will take place in Rafinesque Hall, a large open area inside Mammoth Cave, which also hosts the park's annual Cave Sing in December. The park service says audience members will be encouraged to move around the space during the interactive performance.

December's Cave Sing event filled Mammoth Cave's Rafinesque Hall with music.
December's Cave Sing event filled Mammoth Cave's Rafinesque Hall with music.

How to get tickets

An online lottery will be held at recreation.gov for tickets to either show.

Registration will open at 10 a.m. ET on Jan. 30 and will end at 10 a.m. on Feb. 6. Only one application per email address will be accepted, and each application can request up to four tickets, according to the website.

A $1 application fee will apply to all entries, but the actual concert tickets are free. Admission to Mammoth Cave National Park is also free.

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What if you don't win?

If you strike out in the lottery, you can still catch Yo-Yo Ma with the Louisville Orchestra outside the national park, but it'll cost more. They'll perform Shostakovich together for an April 27th benefit concert and gala at the Kentucky Center. Single tickets in the $60 to $200 range will go on sale in March. Gala packages including premium concert seating, a cocktail reception, dinner and parking start at $1,000. 

Those three performances are the only chances to see Yo-Yo Ma with the orchestra, but the Louisville Orchestra will be offering more free performances throughout the year. The orchestra is kicking off a Kentucky-wide tour in May aimed at bringing live classical music to audiences who may not always have the chance to experience it.

Contributing: Kirby Adams, Courier-Journal

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yo-Yo Ma at Mammoth Cave: How to see star, Louisville Orchestra for $1