News from Transy

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Author Silas House selected a fast-paced Kentucky mystery as the inaugural winner of Transylvania University’s Judy Gaines Young Book Award, which honors a work from the Appalachian region. “The Next Time You See Me,” the debut novel from Holly Goddard Jones, chronicles a woman’s disappearance in a rural Kentucky town and the secrets its residents are keeping. House—one of Kentucky’s most prominent authors—heaped praise on the novel, calling Jones “one of the best writers working today.” “I think Jones is doing something very remarkable in this novel because she is combining elements of mystery, sense of place and social commentary in a lyrical book that is also a real page-turner,” he said. “Jones portrays rural people in a dignified and complex way without ever approaching stereotype, revealing the heart and soul of one small Kentucky town (and, ultimately, America) in a vivid cast of characters that become very real to the reader. I was very compelled to read it but also didn’t want it to end so I could luxuriate in the rich sense of place, the provocative themes and the lush language.” Jones is from Russellville, Ky., and now lives in Greensboro, N.C. She teaches in the creative writing program at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and will visit Transylvania on March 24 at 5 p.m. to give a public reading from her book in Carrick Theater. The selection also comes with a $2,000 cash prize, and a signed

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Environmental lawyer and activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will talk about Green Capitalism on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in Transylvania’s Haggin Auditorium. The free event is part of the William R. Kenan Jr. Lecture Series. A reception will immediately follow in Carrick Theater. Tickets are sold out. “We are very excited to have a speaker the stature of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. here,” said psychology professor Meg Upchurch, who coordinates the lecture series. “His talk about how we can create jobs by developing environmentally sustainable industries should appeal to people from across the political spectrum. All of us who have a stake in the future of Kentucky can benefit from hearing ideas about possible directions the economy can take in the 21st century.” Green Capitalism Sustainable business and energy independence are keys to our economic revitalization. America can boost its own infrastructure by powering industry with plentiful and domestic renewable resources. With his trademark passion and topical expertise, Kennedy outlines how a sophisticated, well-crafted energy policy will help sharpen American competitiveness while reducing energy costs and our national debt. Intelligent energy policy is also the national fulcrum for U.S. foreign policy and national security. From career opportunities in sustainability and technologies to weaning our reliance on carbon energy, Kennedy offers a bold vision to restore U.S. economic might, safeguard our environment, and re-establish America’s role as an exemplary nation. Kenan series Transylvania’s Kenan lecture series and is

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MIDWAY, Ky.—Transylvania University’s equestrian team learned from one of eventing’s most celebrated riders on Nov. 22 and 23. Six-time Olympian Mary King—once ranked first in the world—taught a clinic at Three Day Farm, where the school’s riders train. “This will be a very educational experience for our team members to learn from one of the best eventing riders and trainers the sport has ever seen,” Transylvania equestrian coach Tanya Davis said before the event. King, who is from England’s Devon County, earned Great Britain two silver medals and a bronze in team eventing in the Olympics. She also won numerous gold medals at the World Equestrian Games and European Eventing Championships. “We are excited and lucky to have the opportunity for Mary King to come to our farm for her first clinic ever in Kentucky,” Davis said. Three Day Farm is in the heart of horse country—the rolling hills of Woodford County, just a short drive from Transylvania University in Lexington. The liberal arts school’s equestrian team has found much success in competition since starting two years ago, and Three Day Farm has attracted other world-class talent to teach Transylvania riders. This past April, sophomore Charlotte Pruet—who will participate in this weekend’s clinic—received a 45-minute dressage lesson from Jane Bartle-Wilson, one of the best trainers in the world. Pruet looked forward to the lesson. “As an athlete I’m always wanting to grow and develop into a better rider and this is an outstanding

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LEXINGTON, Ky.— Members of the Transylvania University Choir will join the Lexington Philharmonic and singers from other area colleges for a massive production of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” The concert will feature about 180 university students, professional soloists, and a children’s choir from the School for the Creative and Performing Arts on Friday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Singletary Center for the Arts. “Our students are thrilled to be taking on a musical challenge of this scale and quality,” said Karen Cooksey, conductor of the Transylvania Choir. “We treasure this unique opportunity to share the stage with a professional orchestra as well as so many other fine university students in our own backyard.” “Carmina Burana” is a powerful work with dramatic climaxes offset by intense lows; those in the audience likely will recognize the opening movement, “O Fortuna,” described by Cooksey as a classic action or apocalyptic movie showpiece. Within the work, Orff sets medieval texts in a modern way. “Through them we see some aspects of the human condition have not changed over the centuries—we still worry about what will happen to us; we still fall in love; we still drink and make merry, and so on,” Cooksey said. “It’s an incredibly rewarding sing.” The orchestra also will present Alexander Scriabin’s “Poem of Ecstasy” during the first half of the program. Scott Terrell, the Lexington Philharmonic music director and conductor, put Friday night’s offerings in context. “We

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