1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Sounds of patriotism will ring from the steps of Transylvania’s historic Old Morrison on Tuesday

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Sounds of patriotism will ring from the steps of Transylvania’s historic Old Morrison on Tuesday, July 3, as the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lexington Singers treat the community to Fourth of July favorites in their annual concert of patriotic music. The concert, which is free and open to the public, begins at 8 p.m. and draws upwards of 5,000 people who set out their blankets and chairs from the steps of Old Morrison to Gratz Park. This year’s concert will be the last conducted by George Zack, conductor of the Lexington Philharmonic, before his retirement. Zack has conducted the Philharmonic for 35 years and the patriotic concert at Transylvania for more than 30. The theme of this year’s concert is “George’s American Favorites,” including selections from Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and Sousa. The concert is sponsored by National City Bank, Keeneland and the Kentucky League of Cities. The Young at Heart Dixieland Band will perform in Gratz Park prior to the concert. For more information, contact the public relations office at (859) 233-8120.

Governor’s School for the Arts moves into final stage

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The 2007 session of the Governor’s School for the Arts will reach the half-way point on Wednesday with its 20th-year anniversary celebration and final day performances still on the horizon. The GSA summer program includes 226 rising junior and senior Kentucky arts students. The 2007 session features students from 50 counties and about 86 Kentucky high schools. Over the 20 years of its existence, the GSA has provided scholarships for over 3,300 students from all 120 counties. During their 21-day stay on the Transylvania campus, the students are immersed in a rigorous schedule of daily seminars, master classes, lectures, hands-on workshops and field trips to regional arts attractions. Instruction is offered in eight disciplines: architecture, creative writing, dance, drama, instrumental music, musical theater, visual arts and vocal music. Students, faculty and staff have already hosted a meeting of the Kentucky General Assembly’s interim joint Education Committee. This Saturday, alumni from the program have been invited to Transy for a reunion that will include performances, an alumni art exhibit and classroom visits. On July 4, all students will attend a field trip to the Freedom Center in Cincinnati. Final performance day is set for July 7, where family, friends, and family are invited to attend performances and art displays featuring the work of the students. Graduation is set for 5 p.m. Editor’s Note: Media are invited to attend remaining daily GSA sessions as well as final day performances on July

It’s Just Her Style

Carrie Blaydes, a 2002 graduate of Transylvania University, is now a freelance writer and vintage clothing collector in New York. She has coauthored her first book—Fashion DIY: 30 Ways to Craft Your Own Style. Carrie majored in English and French at Transylvania and received several writing awards. Sewing since kindergarten, she began altering and embellishing vintage clothing in grade school and branched out into original designs while at Transy. The Lexington Herald-Leader ran this feature article on Carrie in its June 21, 2007 issue.

Governor’s School for the Arts session begins June 17 at Transylvania

LEXINGTON, Ky.—More than 200 of Kentucky’s best young artists will gather on the Transylvania campus on Sunday to begin the three-week 2007 session of the Governor’s School for the Arts. The latest GSA class includes 226 rising junior and senior students with about 50 counties and 86 Kentucky high schools represented. During their 21-day stay, the student-artists will be immersed in a rigorous schedule of daily seminars, master-classes, lectures, hands-on workshops and field trips to regional arts attractions. Instruction is offered in eight disciplines: architecture, creative writing, dance, drama, instrumental music, musical theatre, visual arts and vocal music. Since 1987, more than 3,300 of the state’s most talented high school artists from 120 counties have attended the GSA summer program following a rigorous selection process. More than 1,300 students apply for the program each year for one of the available scholarships valued at over $3,000. Currently, 18 colleges and universities, including Transylvania, offer scholarships to GSA alumni. The program will culminate on July 7 with an all-day festival that celebrates the achievements of Kentucky’s young artists. Corporate and government supporters of the program have also been invited to attend the final day festivities along with parents, relatives, friends and GSA alumni. Transylvania has hosted the prestigious program since 2000. “Hosting this wonderful program has been a delight,” said Transylvania president Charles L. Shearer. “The GSA is the focal point of our summer campus activities. We believe our arts and performance

Five consecutive generations of one family have earned Transylvania degrees

When psychology major Caitlin McGuire walked across the stage in front of Old Morrison on Saturday, she was the ninth member of her family to graduate from Transylvania University. Five consecutive generations of her family, touching three different centuries, have included a Transy graduate. Caitlin’s great great grandfather William Smallwood Gamboe began the tradition when he graduated in 1896 from Kentucky University, the name Transylvania used from 1865-1908 before reclaiming its historic name. William and his wife Tacie Pharis Gamboe had a son, Homer Pharis Gamboe, who was born while the family was living in a boarding house on Upper Street across from the Transy campus. This structure is now the Row House, restored in 1996 as part of the John R. Hall Athletic Field. Homer also attended Transy and after graduating in 1918, he went on, like his father, to graduate from the College of the Bible, then located on Transy’s campus. Homer and his wife had two daughters, Alice who graduated from Transylvania in 1946, and Rachael Gamboe McGuire. Rachael and her sister grew up in India, where their father was a missionary. After attending Woodstock, an American boarding school in the Himalayas, they came back to the United States to attend college. For Rachael, attending Transylvania was a dream come true, as she had heard tales of it her whole life. While there, she met Franklin McGuire. The two became sweethearts and were married in 1947. In