1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Month: November 2009

Transylvania student learns from barbershop quartet greats, brings knowledge back to campus organization

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Olson, far right, with members of Transy Boys A Cappella (TBA). LEXINGTON, Ky.—Kristofer Olson wants to make one thing clear—this isn’t your grandfather’s barbershop quartet. “The popular misconception is that barbershop harmony is sung only by old guys in straw hats and striped jackets,” Olson says. “The fact of the matter is, there is such an exciting and growing youth population in barbershop.” Take Olson, for instance, a senior music major at Transylvania, who proudly claims to be “a 22-year-old guy who loves barbershop quartets.” His love led him to attend a weeklong set of master classes this past summer through Harmony University, a series taught by the best people in the barbershop business – the best quartets, solo singers, and directors.A place where, Olson emphasizes, “you will not see a straw hat anywhere.” The program, sponsored by the Barbershop Harmony Society, took place in St. Joseph, Mo., from July 26 to August 2, and was an opportunity for burgeoning barbershop singers to hone their craft alongside peers from more than seven countries. The overall experience was what Olson calls, “one of the most fun and intense weeks I’ve had as a singer.” He particularly relished the ability to not only learn from genre masters, but apply his new a cappella knowledge to his other focuses in his major. “I can think of few other fields where this is possible,” he said. Among the classes Olson took were “Elements of

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Transylvania drama professor presents annual solo performance of “A Christmas Carol” Wed., December 2; proceeds benefit the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Come join Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come and of course old Scrooge himself in a solo performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Transylvania’s drama program director, Tim Soulis, will present this holiday classic Wednesday, December 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Carrick Theater. The one-hour production is open to the public and donations taken at the door will benefit the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center. For more information, contact the public relations office at (859) 233-8120 or Tim Soulis at (859) 233-8163.

Transylvania Quidditch team to play match Sunday, Nov. 22, at 3 p.m. on the lawn behind Old Morrison, in preparation for intercollegiate competition

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The Transylvania Quidditch team played a crimson and white scrimmage in October. LEXINGTON, Ky.—Flying around on broomsticks and dodging self-propelled balls sounds like fiction, but at Transylvania University, students are transforming magic into reality with the game of quidditch. The wizard sport from the “Harry Potter” series of books by J.K. Rowling has become a phenomenon on college campuses across the country. ‘Muggle’ quidditch refers to the name for non-magical humans in “Harry Potter,” and is much like wizard quidditch, but played on the ground. Kristin Grenier, a junior environmental studies major from Cynthiana, Ky., and the organizer of Transylvania Quidditch, says the game is “fast and furious.” “It’s a mixture of tag, rugby, dodge ball, basketball, soccer and hide-and-seek, with an added bit of theatrics,” she said. Transylvania Quidditch has 100 members, 20 of whom are active players. “The other members play supportive roles,” said Grenier. The rules of muggle quidditch, according to a 2007 USA Today article, are as follows: Brooms are required, leaving only one hand available, making the game harder as you chase the game ball, a slightly deflated volleyball or soccer ball. Each team has seven players. Three chasers throw the ball among them as they work down the field. If they get it through one of three circular goals (think hula hoops on poles), the team scores 10 points. At the same time, two other team members fling around dark balls called bludgers in

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Transylvania University Board of Trustees names presidential search committee

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University Board of Trustees Chairman William T. Young Jr. announced today a 14-member search committee for the 25th president of the 229-year old liberal arts college. Transylvania’s longest tenured president, Charles L. Shearer, announced to the board in October that he would retire as president at the end of June. “Leading the search for a new president for this remarkable university is the most important work of the board of trustees this year,” said Young. “I am very pleased with the make-up of the committee. In assembling the committee, we sought to achieve balance in expertise and experience.” He said that the committee represents the university’s trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni, but individual members are not charged with representing a constituency. “Each member represents the university as a whole,” he said. The Transylvania University presidential search committee is comprised of the following members: Trustees William M. Arvin ’61, attorney, William M. Arvin Law Offices Karen K. Caldwell ’77, United States District Judge, Eastern District of Kentucky John S. Carroll, veteran journalist and former editor of the Los Angeles Times, The Baltimore Sun, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Lexington Herald-Leader Norwood (Buddy) Cowgill ’65, CEO, Office Suites Plus Rose Mary Stamler Dow ’88, president, Signal Investment, Inc. Ann Rosenstein Giles ’75, president, A.J. Marketing Partners James F. Hardymon, retired chairman and CEO, Textron, Inc. James G. Kenan III, chairman, Kentucky River Properties, LLC. William T. Young Jr., chairman,

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Celebrate the 2009 holiday season with a madrigal dinner at Transylvania

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Begin your holiday season by going back in time to Merry Olde England to A Medieval Feast presented by the Transylvania University Madrigal Singers and the Medieval Instrumental Ensemble. Madrigal dinners will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 3, Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5 in the William T. Young Campus Center. Tickets to this popular holiday event are $20 on Thursday and $25 on Friday and Saturday. Upon entering a castle hall, guests will be seated at tables filled with bread, fruit and salads. As guests enjoy the festive surroundings and dine in royal fashion, the wassail will arrive, the court will enter and the pageantry will unfold. Guests will also partake in a wassail toast with members of the royal court. The evening’s feast will be fit for royalty and feature salads, carved roast beef, roasted vegetables, breads, desserts, coffee and teas. The performance is directed by Gary Anderson, professor of music and director of choral ensembles at Transylvania. For more information, call the fine arts office at (859) 233-8141.