1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Transylvania to host digital art and music festival Sept. 16 and 17; international, national, regional and local artists and musicians will participate; free and open to the public

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University is hosting the Studio 300 Digital Art and Music Festival, Kentucky’s first such festival, on Sept. 16 and 17. The festival, which gets its name from Transylvania’s 300 North Broadway address, explores creative manifestations of technology through concerts and exhibitions of digital art and music. Over two days, Studio 300 will feature over 30 different stage performances and offer 33 art installations, interactive pieces and video/sound works by artists and musicians from around the world. All events are free and open to the public. Timothy Polashek, Transylvania music professor and Studio 300 director, writes in a variety of media and styles, including vocal, instrumental, electro-acoustic music, text/sound compositions and interactive performance systems. His music has been performed throughout the United States and abroad. “As a composer of computer music, I’m always looking for innovative ways to use and develop technologies for artistic purposes,” Polashek said.  “I have had the privilege of participating in many national and international festivals of digital and interactive arts, and they’re simply a lot of fun, and the public is really curious about these things, especially interactive works and multimedia works. “Lexington is a great city with a vibrant arts scene, but there are not yet many groups working with technology. Transylvania has a long history of fostering innovations over the centuries, so it’s natural that we invite these pioneering musicians, artists and technologists to campus.” Polashek hopes to expand the festival into

“The Role of the Speaker of the House: A Tribute to Henry Clay” premieres on KET August 16; runs through August 21

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Current Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John Boehner, R-Ohio, former speaker and current House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and former Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., honor Henry Clay with discussion on the history and role of the Speaker of the House in this one-hour program.  John Harwood, CNBC chief Washington correspondent and New York Times political writer, moderated the discussion that drew a capacity audience to Transylvania University this summer. The Michael Breeding Media film “The Role of the Speaker of the House: A Tribute to Henry Clay” will air on Kentucky Educational Television (KET) on the following dates: Tuesday, August 16, 9 p.m. (KET) Wednesday, August 17, 11 a.m. (KETKY) Thursday, August 18, 11 p.m. (KETKY) Friday, August 19, 4 a.m. (KET) and 8 p.m. (KETKY) Saturday, August 20, 9 a.m. (KETKY) Sunday, August 21, 7 p.m. (KETKY) and 9 p.m. (KET2) Each of the panelists pays tribute to the legacy of Clay and discusses his or her experience as Speaker during sharply differing eras of the political life of the country and under different presidents. Pointing to Clay’s enormous influence on the national political scene from the 1820s to the late 1840s when forces were at work that eventually led to civil war, Boehner says, “No one person in the United States was more responsible for holding the Union together during that time than Henry Clay. He has been a role model for me.”

Transylvania publications receive awards from the Public Relations Society of America’s Thoroughbred Chapter

Lexington, Ky.—Two Transylvania University publications—the admissions viewbook and Transylvania magazine—received first place honors  the Public Relations Society of America-Thoroughbred Chapter’s 2011 awards competition. PRSA is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals. This is the second award for the viewbook this year. It received the Award of Excellence and was a Grand Award finalist in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s District III awards competition in February. The district includes public and private colleges and independent schools in nine southeastern states. “The PRSA awards are especially meaningful because they prove that our publications compare favorably with those produced by business, industry, nonprofit  organizations, government agencies, and consulting firms—not just educational institutions,” said Sarah Emmons, associate vice president of communications and public relations at Transylvania. “I’m delighted that they have once again been judged among the top in the region.” The viewbook provides a comprehensive introduction to Transylvania for prospective students. Transylvania magazine is published three times a year and highlights campus events and successful alumni. Both were produced in-house by the university’s publications staff: Martha Baker, director; William Bowden, writer/editor; Barbara Grinnell, graphic designer; and Tyler Young, editorial assistant.

Celebrate America’s independence with Transylvania University and the city of Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University and the city of Lexington will team up for the 27th year to celebrate America’s independence on the campus of one of the nation’s oldest colleges with a patriotic concert featuring the musical talents of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lexington Singers, on Sunday, July 3, at 8 p.m. The free concert will begin at 8 p.m. with the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “My Old Kentucky Home.” The Lexington Philharmonic will be led by Scott Terell, music director and conductor, and the Lexington Singers will be led by Jefferson Johnson, music director and conductor. Other patriotic selections will be provided throughout the program, which will also include selections from movies such as “Apollo 13,” “Harry Potter” and “Superman.” The concert annually draws a crowd upwards of 5,000 filling the expansive lawn of historic Old Morrison and stretching across Third Street to the Carnegie Center. The Young at Heart Jazz Band of Central Kentucky will perform in Gratz Park from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Patriotic Concert is presented this year by PNC Bank and organized by the Downtown Lexington Corporation and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Transylvania University and Hilliard Lyons are Festival patrons. Handicapped accessible parking will be available in the semi-circle driveway on Broadway between Third and Fourth streets. For more information, contact the public relations office at (859) 233-8120 or Tamara Deckard at the Downtown Lexington Corporation at (859) 425-2592.

Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship holds fourth annual Student Congress at Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky, June 18-25

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Fifty-one college students, from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, are in Lexington this week to attend the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship’s fourth annual Student Congress at Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky, June 18-25. The rising seniors are recommended by the senior U.S. senator from their state and colleges and universities throughout the country and, while at the Student Congress, are exposed to a curriculum in diplomacy, dialogue, listening skills, negotiation and mediation. Earlier today, Transylvania president and historian R. Owen Williams shared with the Student Congress details of the close relationship statesman Henry Clay had with the 231-year-old university. The “Great Compromiser” served as a professor in Transylvania’s law school beginning in 1805 and oversaw the construction of Old Morrison (1833), which is now home to the university’s administrative offices, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is featured on the city seal of Lexington. Clay remained a trustee and friend of the university until his death in 1852. In recognition of the 200th anniversary of Clay becoming Speaker of the House, a special program will be held at Transylvania’s Haggin Auditorium on Friday, June 24, at 7:30 p.m. The sold-out event, “A Tribute to Henry Clay,” will feature a moderated discussion on how Henry Clay influenced the role of the Speaker of the House by current Speaker John Boehner, former Speaker and current House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and