News from Transy

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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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Jeff Mudrak, director of human resources at Transylvania University, received the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) Distinguished Service Award at the association’s national conference in Las Vegas in October. The award, sponsored by Kronos Incorporated, is given to CUPA-HR members who have given outstanding service to the association through constituent activities, including service in governance or leadership roles or through professional development contributions in support of the association. Kronos donated $1,500 to Transylvania in honor of Mudrak. Mudrak has been a member of CUPA-HR for 18 years and began his leadership in the association in 1999 when he joined the Kentucky Chapter board of directors. He served as chair for two years and past chair for two years. From 2001 to 2008, he served in several capacities on the association’s Southern Region board, including secretary/treasurer, chair and past chair. During that time he also served a three-year term on the national board of directors and on several committees and task forces, including the Building Task Force, the Policy Committee and as chair of the Chapter Task Force, where he helped establish CUPA-HR’s on-line chapter leader resources. Mudrak has been a chapter advocate during his entire tenure of volunteer service. He helped strengthen the Kentucky Chapter by finding ways to increase corporate partner support, which led to improvements in chapter programming; helped increased attendance at chapter conferences by offering free registration to first-time attendees and led

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—From 1935-1975, Lexington was home to the United States Narcotic Farm, a federal narcotic prison and treatment center. Volunteers who checked themselves into the center for help with their drug addictions worked alongside convicted addicts who were housed as inmates. Now the center is the subject of a book, The Narcotic Farm: The Rise and Fall of America’s First Prison for Drug Addicts, and a documentary, The Narcotic Farm. Transylvania University will host a performance piece on November 9 and a screening of the film on November 10. Both events are free and open to the public. Monday, November 9, 8 p.m. Carrick Theater, Mitchell Fine Arts Center Book co-authors Nancy Campbell and Luke Walden and filmmaker J. P. Olsen will present a live multi-media performance that developed out of their collaborative work on The Narcotic Farm. Live jazz, book text and archival film come together in this engaging and provocative piece. Tuesday, November 10, 7 p.m. Cowgill Center, room 102The Narcotic Farm, a one-hour PBS feature, includes personal interviews with inmates and administrators, along with government 16mm film and still footage that focuses on the personalities and often contentious ground-breaking programs that characterized The Narcotic Farm. The Narcotic Farm events are part of the Drugged America Series at Transylvania, sponsored by the Bingham-Young Fellowship Program. For more information on the film and book, visit www.narcoticfarm.com.  For more information on the events at Transylvania, contact the public relations office

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Members of contemporary string ensemble Barrage rehearse for their performance at Transylvania. LEXINGTON, Ky.—Called a high-octane fiddle-fest, world famous contemporary string ensemble Barrage recently performed at Transylvania for an audience of Transylvania music students and middle and high school orchestra students and parents from the Lexington community. At Transylvania, Barrage presented their integrated program to educate, motivate and inspire string students. Eleven Transylvania music students and 120 Fayette County middle and high school orchestra students participated in the concert, the high schoolers and Transylvania students played two pieces with the musicians of Barrage and the middle school students played one. Barrage conducted a rehearsal/clinic with the students in the afternoon prior to the evening performance. Barrage conducts about 30 of these educational performances a year. Professor Ben Hawkins talks with Transylvania music students waiting to take the stage and rehearse with Barrage. Formed in Canada in 1996, Barrage has been described as “Stomp” meets “Riverdance.” The talented cast, which includes six violin players, one drum kit player, one guitar player and one bass player, is made up of an international group of musicians that all contribute an impressive array of multi-instrumental talents. The players are chosen during intensive audition calls that occur year-round and around the world. New players must train for several months before they are able to step onto the stage as full members of the touring cast. The show is on the road for over 30 weeks

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