1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Concert explodes with Rachmaninoff, soothes with Beethoven

LEXINGTON, Ky.—On Sunday, Nov. 17, gifted pianist David Viscoli will perform works of two musical giants, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff, presenting a program that demands passion and virtuosity. The concert begins at 3 p.m. in Carrick Theater and is free and open to the public. The first half of the recital features two Beethoven sonatas. Both works reveal the composer’s more lyrical side. In the second half, listeners will hear a collection of works that, because of their difficulty, are rarely performed publicly: the nine Etudes-Tableaux, op. 39, of Rachmaninoff.  Transylvania music professor Greg Partain, a recognized pianist himself, encourages people to “come and hear the piano explode.” Partain knew of Viscoli’s work when they were students together at The University of Texas at Austin, where Partain considered Viscoli to be one of the most gifted young pianists in attendance. Viscoli is currently professor of piano at Minnesota State University in Mankato. American Record Guide, America’s oldest classical music review magazine, said of Viscoli: “… [he] relishes punishing virtuosic repertoire; but he’s capable of tender, understated lyricism as well.” Parking is available in the Mitchell Fine Arts parking lot adjacent to the building. For more information, please call Gretchen Shoot, fine arts administrative assistant, at 859-233-8141 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Lexington Tattoo Project unveils the “hidden image” Nov. 15

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The Lexington Tattoo Project brought together a diverse community: grandmothers, parents, tattoo aficionados, tattoo newbies, bikers, poets. On Friday, Nov. 15, the tattoo designs themselves will be brought together to reveal a hidden image—inked on a well-known Lexingtonian. Just who that is will remain a mystery until he or she pulls up to the unveiling party at Buster’s Billiards & Backroom on Manchester Street that night…in a Ferrari. The project was dreamed up by Transylvania professors Kurt Gohde and Kremena Todorova, a creative team that engages the community in unusual ways. For this work, a word or words from Transylvania alumna Bianca Spriggs’ poem “The __________ of the Universe: A Love Story” was tattooed on 252 people who call Lexington home. The privately funded project garnered a surprising amount of attention earlier this year, including a CNN feature. “It became much bigger, much faster than what we had anticipated,” Todorova said. Like a sailor’s “Mom” tattoo, this skin art is a mark of affection. “We asked Bianca to write the poem as a love letter to Lexington,” explained Todorova. And the stories of those who volunteered to get tattooed—whether Lexington natives or newcomers—without fail reference a fondness for the city, in all its beauty and its shortcomings. Many of the poem’s words and phrases came from responses gathered from Facebook and Twitter requests to fill in the blank of the poem’s title. Phrases include “Candy Heart,” “Underrated Wine,” “Roadside

Transylvania hosts Day of Remembrance for transgender individuals who were victims of violence

LEXINGTON, Ky.—In 2012, the lives of more than 60 transgender individuals worldwide came to a violent end. They were beaten, strangled, shot, stabbed, burned and frequently mutilated—all because they did not conform to society’s established norms of gender identity. In response to these abhorrent acts, groups of supporters gather annually in November to recognize and honor that year’s victims. The Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to shine a light on the prejudice and hatred that leads to such violence. An international event observed in over 185 cities in more than 20 countries, the Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1998 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender graphic designer, columnist and activist, to memorialize the murder of her friend Rita Hester in Allston, Mass. On Nov. 22, three Transylvania University student organizations—T-Unity, SAGE and the Genderbread House—will sponsor a Trans* Day of Remembrance from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The memorial service is open to the public and will include a candlelight vigil on the Old Morrison steps, during which those individuals slain in 2013 will be recognized. Participants can then go to the Campus Center Gym for a Resource Illumination Fair featuring information booths promoting public safety and equality. The organizers hope to have many local and regional organizations participate. “Far too often, the struggles trans* folks face are ignored by the media and forgotten by the public,” said Spencer Peach ‘16, one of the event organizers. “This event will

Music lovers take note

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Music lovers, take out your calendars and start planning: Transylvania University’s music program has four compelling—and contrasting—performances scheduled for the next four weeks. They’re all free and open to the public, so why spend an evening without music? Friday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m., Haggin Auditorium, Mitchell Fine Arts CenterConcert Band and Jazz and Percussion Ensembles Playing for the first time together, the Concert Band and the Jazz and Percussion Ensembles might take the roof off Haggin Auditorium. The Concert Band, under the direction of professor of music and director of instrumental ensembles Ben Hawkins, will perform music by Sousa, Alfred Reed, Robert W. Smith and Norman Dello Joio. The program includes Sousa’s rousing and aptly named “On the Campus,” a brisk circus march. The Jazz Ensemble, conducted by low brass music instructor Valerie Evans, will play “Grooved Pavement” by Victor Lopez, “Now What” by Mike Kamuf and a combined piece with the Percussion Ensemble titled “Cubano Chant” by Ray Bryant. And the Percussion Ensemble, conducted by percussion music instructor Greg Strouse, will present “Kalahari” by Steve Grimo and “Impulsion” by David Long. Wednesday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m., Haggin Auditorium, Mitchell Fine Arts CenterGabriel Fauré’s “Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48” Transylvania Chamber Orchestra and various choirs French composer Gabriel Fauré’s well-known “Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48” will be presented by the Transylvania University music program. The performance of the gripping mass for the dead, in seven movements, will

State Auditor Adam Edelen featured at Transylvania’s Left of Center Speaker Series

Kentucky State Auditor Adam Edelen will speak at Transylvania University on Nov. 14 as part of the Left of Center Speaker Series, sponsored by the Transylvania College Democrats. The series was founded in 2012 as a way to present a left-leaning point of view in a public setting. The lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Transylvania’s Cowgill Center, room 102. It is free and open to the public. A nationally recognized public servant, Edelen was named a leader of the NewDEAL, a national network of pro-growth progressives, and received the New Leaders Council 40 Under 40 Leadership Award for entrepreneurship. He was identified as a rising star of American government by the Aspen Institute’s Rodel Fellowship Program for Public Leadership, a 24-month program focused on promoting bipartisan problem-solving and public leadership. His tenure as state auditor has been notable for its high-profile audits and investigations of public officials and tax-supported organizations. Cowgill Center is on Third Street, just east of Old Morrison. Parking is available in Old Morrison circle or in the parking lot on Fourth Street adjacent to the Mitchell Fine Arts Center. For more information, contact Donovan Sowder, president of Transylvania College Democrats, at desowder15@transy.edu or 859-559-3659.