Five Faculty Earn Excellence in Teaching Honors</h1> <article> <h1>Five Faculty Earn Excellence in Teaching Honors</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:48:43 +0000</p> <span>Five Faculty Earn Excellence in Teaching Honors</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-03-14T10:48:43-04:00" title="Thursday, March 14, 2024 - 10:48">Thu, 03/14/2024 - 10:48</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Five 91ֱ�� faculty members have been recognized with Excellence in Teaching Awards for the 2022-23 academic year.</p> <p>Presented annually, the awards recognize faculty in the college and conservatory who have demonstrated sustained and distinctive excellence in the classroom and beyond.</p> <p>Though they approach their teaching across widely varied disciplines, the honorees are united by several key characteristics, says <a href="/node/4921">David Kamitsuka</a>, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences:</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">“All of them are beloved and visionary teachers, they are deeply admired by their colleagues, they do a superb job connecting their area of expertise to its importance in real life, and they find great joy and meaning in the growth of their students.”</p> <p>A dinner reception was held March 11 at the home of President Carmen Twillie Ambar. The honorees (pictured above at the reception) are as follows:</p> <p><strong><a href="/node/6671">Jay Ashby</a><br> Associate Professor of Jazz Studies<br> Teacher of Jazz Composition and Trombone<br> Director of the Division of Jazz Studies</strong></p> <p>Dean of the Conservatory <a href="/node/49511">Bill Quillen</a> praises Jay Ashby’s commitment to students, his stewardship of the <a href="/node/3231">Division of Jazz Studies</a>, and his development of the Performance and Improvisation program, as well as his ongoing ties to 91ֱ�� athletics as co-chair of the General Faculty Athletics Committee.</p> <p>“Jay Ashby has played a leading role in continuing the legacy of jazz studies at 91ֱ��, and he works tirelessly in support of our students,” Quillen says. “He has expanded the realm of jazz studies and created opportunities not just for our jazz students, but for students across our campus.”</p> <hr> <p><strong><a href="/node/6761">Jonathan Moyer</a><br> David S. Boe Associate Professor of Organ<br> Chair of the Organ Department</strong></p> <p>“Jonathan Moyer is one of the most outstanding organ performers and pedagogues in America,” Quillen says. “He stands out not only for his artistic excellence, but also for his deep-seated care for his students. He has continued 91ֱ��’s rich tradition of organ study and placed the students and their needs at the heart of everything he does.”</p> <p>Quillen praises Moyer for his commitment to creating immersive learning experiences in organ centers across Europe and fostering career connections for his students throughout Northeast Ohio and around the world.</p> <hr> <p><strong><span id="cke_bm_37257S" style="display: none;"> </span>Lynn Powell<br> Emerita Assistant Professor of Creative Writing<br> Director of 91ֱ�� Writers in the Schools</strong></p> <p>Kamitsuka cites Lynn Powell’s extraordinary and longstanding commitment to the <a href="/node/3221">Creative Writing Department</a> and the community. For more than two decades, she provided visionary leadership to 91ֱ��’s <a href="/node/178921">Writers in the Schools</a> program, a collaboration between the college and 91ֱ�� public schools. “It’s truly unimaginable how much work Lynn has put into this labor of love,” Kamitsuka says of Powell, who retired in summer 2023.</p> <p> </p> <hr> <p><strong><a href="/node/5706"><span id="cke_bm_37257E" style="display: none;"> </span></a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="/node/5261">Lisa Ryno</a><br> Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry</strong></p> <p>“What is so impressive about Lisa Ryno is her incredible efforts and success in involving students in every facet of her research,” says Kamitsuka. “No one has done more than Lisa to ensure that all students thrive.” Kamitsuka notes that Ryno spearheaded—while on sabbatical—implementation of the Chemistry Climate Survey, which was intended to assess students’ sense of belonging and engagement with the department.</p> <p>Ryno’s many student collaborations are evidenced in the great number of student researchers who participate with <a href="/undergraduate-research">91ֱ�� Undergraduate Research</a> and present at departmental symposiums—and also in the contingent of five students who will present alongside Ryno at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology conference this month in San Antonio.</p> <p>“Nothing is better than watching someone gain confidence in the lab and take ownership of their project,” Ryno says.</p> <hr> <p><strong><a href="/node/5706">Md Rumi Shammin</a><br> Professor of Environmental Studies<br> Director of the Environmental Studies Program</strong></p> <p>“Rumi Shammin models genuine modesty and humility as the foundation of all learning,” says Kamitsuka.</p> <p>Shammin is regarded among students and fellow faculty as a master of group projects and collaborative work, including his National Science Foundation-funded project “Perspective-Taking and Systems-Thinking for Complex Problem Solving.” Shammin founded <a href="/node/3196">Environmental Studies</a>’ Career Day, which offers a highly successful model for forging professional connections.</p> <hr> <p><strong>About the Excellence in Teaching Awards:</strong> Each year, College of Arts and Sciences faculty are selected for consideration through nominations presented to the College Faculty Council, which are then reviewed by a faculty committee. An award is presented in each division of the college: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and natural sciences and mathematics. The conservatory dean recommends a number of conservatory faculty to the Conservatory Faculty Council for consideration, and together they review and narrow the recommendations to two recipients.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Annual awards celebrate distinguished and sustained leadership across the college and conservatory.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-03-14T12:00:00Z">Thu, 03/14/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=34896">Jazz Composition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=34691">Jazz Performance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25326">Creative Writing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28886">Historical Performance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=40211">Historical Keyboard Instruments</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=32966">Organ</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jay-ashby" hreflang="und">Jay Ashby</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jonathan-william-moyer" hreflang="und">Jonathan William Moyer</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/lisa-ryno" hreflang="und">Lisa Ryno</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/md-rumi-shammin" hreflang="und">Md Rumi Shammin</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/jazz-studies" hreflang="und">Jazz Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/historical-performance" hreflang="und">Historical Performance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/keyboard-studies" hreflang="und">Keyboard Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/creative-writing" hreflang="und">Creative Writing</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">91ֱ��’s 2022-23 Excellence in Teaching honorees (from left): Jonathan Moyer, Lisa Ryno, Rumi Shammin, Lynn Powell, and Jay Ashby.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Scott Shaw</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>The Dark Side of Orpheus</h1> <p>srasmuss — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 18:14:26 +0000</p> <span>The Dark Side of Orpheus</span> <span><span>srasmuss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-03-07T13:14:26-05:00" title="Thursday, March 7, 2024 - 13:14">Thu, 03/07/2024 - 13:14</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice has appeared in art for centuries, in everything from books, to paintings, to music. So why do we keep telling it? That question weighed on <a href="https://www.stephaniehavey.com/">Stephanie Havey’s</a> mind as the stage director began planning for 91ֱ�� Opera Theater’s production of <a href="/artsguide/opera"><em>L’Orfeo</em></a>.</p> <p>“There’s something very relatable in that doubt that Orpheus has,” Havey says about the bard’s quest to rescue his wife from the underworld. “That fear of losing his loved one, and also doubting himself—I think these themes are all very universal.”</p> <p>Written at the turn of the 17th century, Claudio Monteverdi’s <em>L’Orfeo</em> is one of the earliest examples of opera as an art form. But it’s not the only operatic take on Orpheus. Havey, 91ֱ��’s visiting assistant professor of opera theater for 2023-24, has directed the versions by Gluck and Offenbach at other points in her career. But she says Monteverdi’s has a distinct perspective on the dark side to Orpheus’ musical power.</p> <p>“This is not just a story about how he uses his lyre to win, to vanquish gods and beasts,” she says. “There’s something about how he has to vanquish himself.”</p> <p>All of this culminates in a darker, modern-era staging of the tale, which will be <a href="/artsguide/opera">presented on March 14 to 17</a> in Hall Auditorium. Havey doesn’t want to give too much away, saving some surprises for opening night. But she notes that Orpheus’ lyre has been replaced with a “weapon” — one that he hides behind and “sort of symbolizes ego.”</p> <p>Havey credits Alessandro Striggio’s libretto as a key element in exploring the flaws and vulnerabilities behind the Greek hero. The new production is a psychological exploration of Orpheus’ point of view, which is plagued by fear and doubt.</p> <p>The underworld setting, for example, is populated by distorted versions of characters from the opera’s opening wedding scene. “The man who Orpheus saw flirting with his wife at the wedding is now the king of the underworld who’s holding her captive,” Havey explains. “And some beautiful woman who made a toast is now the queen.” This twisted view is supplemented with “larger and exaggerated” choreography (<a href="/holly-handman-lopez">Holly Handman-Lopez</a>) and “otherworldly” lighting (<a href="/jeremy-benjamin">Jeremy K. Benjamin</a>).</p> <p>Creative thought also went into the placement of the orchestra, which will be visible onstage behind the singers. That location poses some logistical challenges for the cast and musicians (cue extra cameras and monitors), but Havey isn’t too worried.</p> <p>“This is very much driven by the text and driven by the performer,” she says. Rather than the singers needing to follow the conductor's exact pattern, “it’s really that the continuo are following the singers and how they want to convey the text.”</p> <p>Conductor <a href="https://www.christiancapocaccia.com/">Christian Capocaccia</a> agrees, adding that the beauty of Monteverdi’s music is tied to the simplicity of the text. “Sometimes the line is a repetition of the same notes,” he says. “But even when there’s almost no melody, it’s the articulation, it’s the elegance, you know—it’s incredibly touching.” </p> <p>The small ensemble of period instruments under Capocaccia’s baton was created in collaboration with the Conservatory’s Historical Performance program. The conductor has been working with the students on creating their own musical interpretations, emphasizing the expressive freedom inherent in the Baroque style.</p> <p>“Interpreting music, it is an expression of an opinion. When you make a choice, people sometimes are afraid to make a statement that is personal,” he says, referencing how musicians can sometimes feel compelled to prioritize ‘perfect’ performances to advance in their careers.</p> <p>He applies the same thought process to opera performances more generally. “Sometimes we are forgetting to tell the stories in a fresh way, and if you don’t do that, people get bored. But if you are engaging and eloquent and you focus on the storytelling, I think it might make a difference.”</p> <p>Capocaccia particularly enjoys working with students for this reason. “I always find it beautiful to work in schools, especially this caliber of school,” he says. The musicians “retain the unjaded quality of people that haven’t had to deal with the profession yet, which is great. They’re still having a blast doing it.”</p> <p>The conductor is also focused on making sure he’s enjoying himself while on the podium. “When people ask me, ‘How do you think it went?’ I say, ‘I wasn’t in the audience, so I don’t know how it sounded. But for me, I think it went great because I had a blast.’ And typically, if I had a blast, I always get good feedback.”</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>TICKET INFORMATION</strong><br> $10 reserved seating ($8 students)<br> Tickets are available online and by phone at 800-371-0178. Patrons may also purchase them in person between noon and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 91ֱ�� College's Central Ticket Service, located at 67 N. Main Street, in the lobby of the Eric Baker Nord Performing Arts Complex.</p> <p><a href="/tickets/event-details?EventId=11401">Online Box Office</a><br> <br> <strong>PRODUCTION DETAILS</strong><br> Thursday, March 14 - Saturday, March 16 at 8:00 p.m.<br> Sunday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m.<br> 91ֱ�� College Hall Auditorium<br> 67 N. Main Street<br> 91ֱ��, Ohio</p> <p>This production will be available via <a href="https://vimeo.com/event/690987/2eb3338452">livestream</a> on Thursday and Friday, March 13 and 14 only.</p> <p><em>Proudly supported by <a href="https://www.ideastream.org/">Ideastream Public Media</a>, official media partner of 91ֱ��'s Artist Recital Series and Opera Theater productions.</em></p> <hr> <p><em>Stephanie Manning '23 completed her bachelor’s degree in bassoon performance with a dual concentration in arts management and journalism. A 2022 fellow of the Rubin Institute for Music Criticism, she has contributed frequently to ClevelandClassical.com and Early Music America. She is currently pursuing a graduate diploma in journalism from Concordia University in Montreal.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">91ֱ�� Opera Theater’s latest production gives a complex, contemporary take on the familiar story of the Greek hero in Monteverdi’s "L’Orfeo."</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-03-07T12:00:00Z">Thu, 03/07/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Stephanie Manning '23</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3873">91ֱ�� Opera Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3515">Dance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3878">Conservatory of Music</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35596">Voice</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28886">Historical Performance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=38696">Historical Instruments</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/holly-handman-lopez" hreflang="und">Holly Handman-Lopez</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jeremy-benjamin" hreflang="und">Jeremy Benjamin</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Nick Giammarco</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Semester Ends with a Packed Performance Calendar</h1> <p>cstrauss — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 16:59:18 +0000</p> <span>Semester Ends with a Packed Performance Calendar</span> <span><span>cstrauss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-12-08T11:59:18-05:00" title="Friday, December 8, 2023 - 11:59">Fri, 12/08/2023 - 11:59</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ�� Conservatory’s student and faculty performers have been filling most concert venues throughout the campus over the last week. In just the last few days, we’ve heard performances by the Conservatory’s newest ensembles—the Djembe Orchestra led by Associate Professor of West African Drumming <a href="/weedie-braimah">Weedie Braimah</a>, and students in the 91ֱ�� Creative Music Lab directed in open-form and guided improvisation by Associate Professor of Contemporary Music and Improvisation <a href="/dana-jessen">Dana Jessen</a>. Guest artist and Brazilian pianist Helio Alves collaborated in the performances of original works with Performance and Improvisation Ensembles—ensembles dedicated to the exploration of many different world musics.</p> <p>During these final five bustling days before students head into reading period and then exams, large scale works by Johannes Brahms and Georg Frideric Handel will be heard standing alongside newer works by Jiyun Kim and André Previn. There are also two world premieres that feature appearances by both faculty and student soloists. This explosion of activity feels something akin to the thrilling finale of a fireworks display on New Year's Eve. So, join in—even from a distance. All of these concerts are free and open to the public, and all but one of them can be streamed live at concert time at <strong><a href="http://oberlin.edu/livestream">oberlin.edu/livestream</a></strong>.</p> <p>The <strong>91ֱ�� Orchestra</strong>, conducted by <a href="/raphael-jimenez">Raphael Jiménez</a>, will give their last performance of the fall semester in Finney Chapel on <strong>Friday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m.</strong> Jihyun Kim’s <em>A Tramp in the Assembly Line</em> opens the evening. Kim describes it as “a musical panorama” inspired by scenes from Charlie Chaplin’s comedy, <em>Modern Times</em>. Previously a visiting professor at 91ֱ��, Kim is now composition faculty at the Washington State University.</p> <p>Voice professor and soprano <a href="/katherine-jolly">Katherine Jolly</a> joins the orchestra as featured soloist in the middle work, André Previn's <em>Honey and Rue</em>, a 1992 song cycle commissioned by soprano Kathleen Battle for soprano, orchestra, and jazz combo. The text is a setting of six poems by Lorain, Ohio-born writer Toni Morrison. The lives of women and African Americans are the inspiration for the poems, which use images of yearning, satisfaction, and resolution.</p> <p>Of the composition, Jolly said, “<em>Honey and Rue</em> is a cycle that I've lived with for 21 years. When I heard the recording and read through the score at age 15, I knew it would be a major part of my future career. It was on my bucket list, understanding that I needed to be much older to truly sing it with the technique and depth it deserves. <em>Honey and Rue</em> is a retrospective exploration of a black woman's existence, moving through and back to slavery. I am very honored to sing the 91ֱ�� debut, just seven miles from where Toni Morrison grew up in Lorain.”</p> <p>The orchestra closes the evening with Brahms’ monumental Symphony No. 4— a piece that is at once emotionally despairing and resigned while astonishing and inspirational in its compositional virtuosity.</p> <hr> <p>Opportunities to hear our students and faculty perform <strong>chamber music</strong> abound on <strong>Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10</strong>. Things get underway at <strong>2:30 p.m. on Saturday</strong> in Kulas Recital Hall with small ensemble works that center <strong>classical guitar</strong>.</p> <p><strong>Six quartets</strong> in 91ֱ��’s Advanced String Quartet Seminar will follow on the final <strong>ChamberFest! </strong>performance of the semester at <strong>4:30 p.m.</strong>, where audiences will hear performances of six of Ludwig van Beethoven’s middle and late quartets. This seminar is a serious and intense immersion into the world of the string quartet, directed by 91ֱ�� faculty and string quartet specialists, <a href="/sibbi-bernhardsson">Sibbi Bernhardsson</a> and <a href="http://www.oberlin.edu/kirsten-docter">Kirsten Docter</a>. The program recently celebrated great success in the launch of 91ֱ��’s fully undergraduate Poiesis Quartet, winner of the 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music last May.</p> <p>Saturday evening brings the works of four masterful composers for the keyboard—Camille Saint-Saëns, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Maurice Ravel, and Franz Schubert—to 91ֱ��’s <strong>Piano Duo Fest</strong>. Hear four sets of student pianist duos perform in Warner Concert Hall at <strong>7:30 p.m</strong>. (<strong><em>This concert is in-person only.)</em></strong></p> <p><strong>Faculty and guest artists</strong> perform a sonata program in Kulas Recital Hall at 1<strong>2:30 p.m. on Sunday</strong>. Hear flutist <a href="http://www.oberlin.edu/alexa-still">Alexa Still</a>, violinist Grigory Kalinovsky, and pianists <a href="/tony-weinstein">Anthony Weinstein</a> and <a href="/tatiana-lokhina">Tatiana Lokhina</a> in works by Gabriel Fauré, Anton Rubinstein, and César Franck.</p> <hr> <p><strong>Vocal ensembles</strong> are also featured prominently this weekend. The a cappella early music ensemble <strong>Collegium Musicum 91ֱ��iense</strong>, under the direction of <a href="/steven-plank">Steven Plank</a>, performs their program twice in the intimate setting of Fairchild Chapel at <strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> on <strong>Friday and Saturday, December 8 and 9</strong>. The program centers on the music of Henry Purcell, opening and closing with his celebratory anthem in five-part harmony, I was glad. Additional works by William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, among others, fill out the offering.</p> <p>The collective forces of <strong>Musical Union</strong>—the nation’s second longest-standing choral tradition—and <strong>91ֱ�� College Choir</strong> will perform <strong>Handel’s complete Messiah</strong> with the <strong>91ֱ�� Chamber Orchestra</strong> and numerous student vocal soloists on <strong>Sunday, December 10 at 2:30 p.m.</strong> in Finney Chapel.</p> <p>91ֱ�� Conservatory Director of Choral Ensembles <a href="/gregory-ristow">Gregory Ristow</a> says, “We've been so lucky to have faculty members <a href="/edwin-huizinga-06">Edwin Huizinga</a> and <a href="/rebecca-reed">Rebecca Landell Reed</a> from our Historical Performance Program work with our string players and share more about styles of playing and bowing that are unique to the Baroque era. Their suggestions have really helped the piece come alive, with the articulations jumping off the page.”</p> <p>91ֱ��’s Professor of Musicology <a href="/charles-mcguire">Charles McGuire</a> writes, “<em>Messiah </em>was one of the compositions that helped form the canon of concert-hall music we have today, for better or worse. Many choirs were formed in the 19th century specifically to sing <em>Messiah</em>. And performances of <em>Messiah</em> have funded many a charitable undertaking, including 91ֱ��. The Musical Union’s (MU) first performance of the oratorio was in 1849. Between 1878 and 1917, and in most years thereafter, MU gave an annual performance of <em>Messiah</em> in December. These performances were sought-after tickets and the excellence of the Musical Union was reported on nationally, and they raised a great deal of money for our institution.”</p> <p>Ristow continues, “It's been so many years since 91ֱ�� has presented a full performance of Handel's <em>Messiah</em>, and I'm thrilled with how everyone is sounding. If you haven't experienced the whole thing before, it's an experience not to be missed!”</p> <p>Immediately preceding this full performance, the Credo music organization will team up with 91ֱ�� once again in its annual <strong>“Messiah Sing Along” at 1:30 p.m.</strong> For a dozen years now, Credo has presented this event. The organization's director and 91ֱ�� viola professor <a href="/peter-slowik">Peter Slowik</a> says, "As Credo celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, we are so grateful to call 91ֱ�� our home. This year's hybrid format is a result of two great ideas coming together! We are delighted to come alongside the Conservatory's production of <em>Messiah</em> this year, and we look forward to the continuation of the sing-along tradition next year.</p> <hr> <p>The Conservatory’s last performance of the semester is with <strong>91ֱ��’s Contemporary Music Ensemble and Sinfonietta</strong> under the direction of <a href="/timothy-weiss">Timothy Weiss</a>. Their relatively rare appearance in Finney Chapel is at <strong>7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12</strong>. These ensembles regularly perform works by women and 91ֱ�� alumni composers, and they are acclaimed for their commitment to giving world premiere performances. This concert is no different: <strong>Two world premieres</strong>—one by student composer Cashel Day-Lewis and the other by faculty composer <a href="/jesse-jones">Jesse Jones</a> are also solo vehicles for a student violin soloist Max Ball, and voice professor <a href="/timothy-lefebvre">Timothy LeFebvre</a>, baritone. Weiss has also programmed pieces by Carolina Heredia and Lotta Wennäkoski. Completing the program, is the 2022 composition <em>Neshamah </em>by 91ֱ�� alumnus and composer David Serkin Ludwig ’95. The <em>New York Times</em>, has described that “Ludwig orchestrates with the skill and sophistication of a Ravel, and generates the power and thrills of a John Williams adventure film score.”</p> <p>Clearly, there is something for everyone over the next five days. Listen, wherever you are. Learn more on <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/calendar/week?event_types%5B%5D=19263">91ֱ�� Conservatory's Events Calendar</a>.</p> <p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Large and small ensembles bring extraordinary range of repertoire to 91ֱ��’s stages</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-12-08T12:00:00Z">Fri, 12/08/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Cathy Partlow Strauss ’84</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3878">Conservatory of Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3879">Performances</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=29541">Piano</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33331">Composition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28886">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/katherine-jolly" hreflang="und">Katherine Jolly</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/gregory-ristow" hreflang="und">Gregory Ristow ’01</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/raphael-jimenez" hreflang="und">Raphael Jiménez</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/timothy-weiss" hreflang="und">Timothy Weiss</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/timothy-lefebvre" hreflang="und">Timothy LeFebvre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/sibbi-bernhardsson" hreflang="und">Sibbi Bernhardsson</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/kirsten-docter" hreflang="und">Kirsten Docter</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/peter-slowik" hreflang="und">Peter Slowik</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/steven-plank" hreflang="und">Steven Plank</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/edwin-huizinga-06" hreflang="und">Edwin Huizinga ’06</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/rebecca-landell" hreflang="und">Rebecca Landell</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/charles-mcguire" hreflang="und">Charles McGuire</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/alexa-still" hreflang="und">Alexa Still</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/tatiana-lokhina" hreflang="und">Tatiana Lokhina</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/tony-weinstein" hreflang="und">Tony Weinstein</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/weedie-braimah" hreflang="und">Weedie Braimah</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/dana-jessen" hreflang="und">Dana Jessen</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jesse-jones" hreflang="und">Jesse Jones</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/conducting-and-ensembles" hreflang="und">Conducting and Ensembles</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/strings" hreflang="und">Strings</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/vocal-studies" hreflang="und">Vocal Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/keyboard-studies" hreflang="und">Keyboard Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/contemporary-music" hreflang="und">Contemporary Music</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Musical Union and the 91ֱ�� Orchestra in Finney Chapel</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">John Seyfried</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Makes Rare U.S. Visit Nov. 22 at 91ֱ��</h1> <p>eburnett — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 22:07:48 +0000</p> <span>Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Makes Rare U.S. Visit Nov. 22 at 91ֱ��</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-11-05T17:07:48-05:00" title="Tuesday, November 5, 2019 - 17:07">Tue, 11/05/2019 - 17:07</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Britain’s Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment <span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-external-link"></span> didn’t get this far by playing things by the book.</p> <p>More than 30 years ago, the period ensemble arose out of a shared vision among its members that there must be a more fulfilling way to make music together. And so they created their orchestra as a democracy, so that each member would have a voice in their musical direction rather than submit to the will of a single director.</p> <p>They agreed that artistic expression should trump fiscal expectation. And they insisted that extraordinary music be celebrated with the focus and passion it deserves.</p> <p>They took up the acronym ’’OAE’’ and they took up the mantra <em>Not all orchestras are the same.</em></p> <p>"We're not trying to recreate the past,” says double bassist Cecelia Bruggemeyer. “We're trying to create something that's exciting now, using historic information."</p> <p>And now, some 34 years into its existence, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is hitting the road to make its point. This month, the resident artists of London’s Southbank Centre will step away from their U.K. homeland and into an exclusive two-engagement tour of the United States: one night in New York City’s Lincoln Center, followed by a performance in 91ֱ��’s Finney Chapel on Friday, November 22.</p> <p>OAE will be joined by acclaimed countertenor Iestyn Davies in a performance that showcases three masterpieces of the Italian Baroque: Pergolesi’s <em>Stabat Mater</em>, Vivaldi’s <em>Gloria</em>, and Albinoni’s Oboe Concerto No. 2, featuring soloist Katharina Spreckelsen, one of the leading Baroque oboists of her generation.</p> <p>The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.</p> <p><strong>RESERVE YOUR SEATS TODAY:</strong> Tickets for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at 91ֱ�� are $35 ($30 for 91ֱ�� faculty/staff/alumni, seniors, and members of the military), with $10 tickets available for all students. Get yours by calling 800-371-0178 or visit oberlin.edu/artsguide.</p> <p><strong>DON’T MISS THE NIGHT SHIFT: </strong>Because even unstuffy orchestras need to unwind, members of OAE will host a free, informal hangout and performance—The Night Shift, in their parlance—immediately after the show. It happens at the intimate Birenbaum club, on the lower level of the Hotel at 91ֱ�� . Night Shift capacity is limited, and guests will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.</p> <p>Artist Recitals at 91ֱ�� continue in December with the return to campus of opera legend Marilyn Horne, who will lead her annual public master class with standout conservatory singers on Wednesday, December 4.</p> <p><a class="view-more" href="/node/371816">Discover the arts at 91ֱ��</a></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2019-11-05T12:00:00Z">Tue, 11/05/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erich Burnett</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>British period ensemble flouts orchestra conventions, embraces the road for two stateside performances.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2364">Artist Recital Series</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28886">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/historical-performance" hreflang="und">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of OAE</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Robert Willoughby, Legendary Flute Professor and Performer, Dies at 96</h1> <p>eburnett — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 18:33:36 +0000</p> <span>Robert Willoughby, Legendary Flute Professor and Performer, Dies at 96</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2018-04-24T14:33:36-04:00" title="Tuesday, April 24, 2018 - 14:33">Tue, 04/24/2018 - 14:33</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Robert Willoughby was an esteemed professor of flute at 91ֱ�� for 37 years, a tenure during which he developed the craft of countless future performers and teachers while maintaining a vibrant playing career of his own. He died March 27, 2018, one year after friends and family had established an endowed scholarship in his honor at 91ֱ��.</p> <p>Born in Grundy Center, Iowa, Willoughby took up flute in the fifth grade but planned for years to follow his father into a career in law; with his father’s encouragement, he ultimately accepted a full scholarship to the Eastman School of Music instead. He earned his degree in 1942 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, training as a B-24 bomber pilot. From his station in southern Great Britain, he flew the first of three dozen career missions on his 23<sup>rd</sup> birthday: a run over the English Channel to Normandy on June 6, 1944—D-Day. (Once asked why he didn’t simply join a military band, Willoughby replied: “I thought every joy I had for music would disappear if I went into a military band!” according to a 2010 interview with <em>Flute: The Journal of the British Flute Society</em>.)</p> <p>Willoughby returned to music after the war, taking up graduate studies in flute with Georges Laurent at the New England Conservatory. “Laurent made me work my tail off,” he told <em>Flute</em>. “I practiced four or five hours a day and made as much progress in one year as I had in four years at Eastman.”</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>(courtesy 91ֱ�� College Archives)</figcaption> </figure> <p>After a year at NEC, Willoughby became assistant principal flute of The Cleveland Orchestra under famed conductor George Szell. He remained with the orchestra for nine years, six of which he also spent teaching part time at 91ֱ��. (His master’s degree from NEC was conferred in 1949, the same year he began at 91ֱ��.) When the demands of working two jobs finally took their toll, Willoughby left northeast Ohio to be principal flute of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. After a year, he was lured back to 91ֱ�� with the offer of a full-time position. In 1957, he married children’s book author Elaine “Mac” Macmann, and they settled in 91ֱ�� for the next three decades.</p> <p>A master of modern flute—<em>Flute</em> magazine went so far as to call him “the American grandmaster"—Willoughby was an avid performer in solo settings and chamber ensembles. In 1970, he took up playing the Baroque flute after studying it in Europe during a sabbatical year, making him among the first major American flutists to cross over into historical performance.</p> <p>Willoughby was a founding member of the 91ֱ�� Woodwind Quintet in 1950 and the 91ֱ�� Baroque Ensemble in 1959, and he was a fixture at 91ֱ��’s annual Baroque Performance Institute since its founding in 1971. He was also a member of the Smithsonian Chamber Players, an ensemble that included his violinist colleague Marilyn McDonald. His many recordings have appeared on the Gasparo, Vox, and Coronet labels, among others.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>(courtesy 91ֱ�� College Archives)</figcaption> </figure> <p>In 1979, Willoughby was named 91ֱ��’s first Robert W. Wheeler Professor—a title that pays tribute, somewhat ironically, to a prominent Cleveland lawyer. (The Wheeler Professorship is currently held by voice professor Salvatore Champagne ’85.) Willoughby was widely published in <em>Flute Talk</em>, <em>The Instrumentalist</em>, and other publications, and he was a charter member of the National Flute Association, which bestowed upon him its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.</p> <p>Over the course of his career, Willoughby taught more than 200 private students, many of whom went on to enjoy standout careers of their own in top orchestras around the country and at major music schools. Gentle, introspective, and humble, he was beloved by all who knew him.</p> <p>“I fondly remember his easy friendliness,” says Professor of Musicology Steven Plank. “Though professionally he was Olympian, his manner and interactions were warm, easy, and genuine, and I was very grateful for that.”</p> <p>“When one hears Bob Willoughby's students, there’s almost a guarantee that no two will sound the same,” says Wendy Rolfe ’74, a professor of flute at the Berklee College of Music and a driving force behind the establishment of the Robert Willoughby Scholarship Fund. “He always encouraged us to think for ourselves and to make our own informed musical decisions.</p> <p>“Bob seemed to look for potential students who had their own musical voices, and to encourage us to develop as intelligent artists. We all thought he would live forever, and we realize he does—in each one of us who was privileged to study with him and to become part of the musical family he and Mac created.” </p> <p>By 1987, Willoughby and his wife traded 91ֱ�� for a newly built island home off the coast of New Hampshire. He taught for a decade at the Peabody Institute, flying to Baltimore each week, then transitioned to the faculty at the Longy School of Music in Boston, where he continued to teach until his death.</p> <p>Willoughby is survived by a son and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife.</p> <p>Learn more about Willoughby and contribute to the Robert Willoughby Scholarship Fund at <a href="https://robertwilloughby.com/scholarship.html" target="_blank">https://robertwilloughby.com/scholarship.html</a>.</p> <div class="obj-center"> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Bob and Mac Willoughby returned to 91ֱ�� in October 2011 for a celebration of his 90th birthday. (photo by Jennifer Manna)</figcaption> </figure> </div> <p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2018-04-24T12:00:00Z">Tue, 04/24/2018 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Erich Burnett</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Master of modern and historical flute devoted 37 years to teaching at 91ֱ��, leaving a long list of distinguished former students.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2412">Obituaries</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35911">Flute</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=36656">Baroque Flute</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28886">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/historical-performance" hreflang="und">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy 91ֱ�� College Archives</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Takes Bach to the Future Feb. 28</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:44:43 +0000</p> <span>Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Takes Bach to the Future Feb. 28</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2017-04-28T14:44:43-04:00" title="Friday, April 28, 2017 - 14:44">Fri, 04/28/2017 - 14:44</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ��’s Artist Recital Series resumes Tuesday, February 28, with a performance unlike any other in its 139-year history.</p> <p><a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/artist_recital_series_tafelmusik_baroque_orchestra#.WKyuTRDii-c">Tafelmusik</a>, the award-winning Baroque orchestra from Toronto, will combine music, text, and stunning projected video and images to explore the world of the artisans—papermakers, instrument carvers, string spinners, and performers—who helped J.S. Bach realize his musical genius in 18th century Leipzig.</p> <p>The 8 p.m. program, called <i>J.S. Bach: The Circle of Creation</i>, touches on well over a dozen works by the composer, including selections from his Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major and the Goldberg Variations. (Hear the orchestra's take on Brandenburg 3 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCeEegoH-ic">here</a>.)</p> <p>Founded in 1979, Tafelmusik performs more than four dozen concerts internationally each year. Its 91ֱ�� appearance marks the opening night of a breakneck-paced, eight-date tour that stretches across the United States and back—with a stop in Puerto Rico—in less than two weeks. <i>The Circle of Creation</i> is one of a series of acclaimed multimedia performances crafted by Tafelmusik, which partners with numerous scholars, visual artists, and others to bring such pieces to the stage.</p> <p>"Tafelmusik has always been ahead of the curve," says Associate Professor of Historical Performance <a href="https://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/historical-performance/faculty_detail.dot?id=20599">David Breitman</a>. "They were one of the very first professional Baroque orchestras in North America, and I’m eager to see what they’re up to now. The <i>Circle of Creation</i> program offers an intriguing mix of old and new: using multimedia technology to evoke the music’s historical context."</p> <p>Tickets for Tafelmusik at 91ֱ�� are $35 ($30 for seniors, military, and 91ֱ�� staff and alumni). All student tickets are just $10. Order yours today at 800-371-0178 or <a href="https://oberlinconservatory.secure.force.com/ticket/#sections_a0FE000000IytO4MAJ">online</a>.</p> <p>In addition, Tafelmusik members will lead a pair of free, public master classes at noon on February 28: one by Baroque violinist and longtime music director <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/guest_master_class_jeanne_lamon_baroque_violin#.WK2vJRDii-c">Jeanne Lamon</a> in Kulas Recital Hall, and another featuring oboist <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/guest_master_class_marco_cera_baroque_oboe#.WK2u3BDii-c">Marco Cera</a> in Clonick Hall.</p> <p>The Artist Recital Series continues Sunday, April 9, with a 4 p.m. performance by piano legend Richard Goode. The series concludes at 8 p.m. Friday, April 21, when The Cleveland Orchestra makes its annual return to campus under the direction of Andrew Davis and featuring oboe soloist Frank Rosenwein and cello soloist Mark Kosower. Learn more about events at 91ֱ�� at <a href="/node/85721">oberlin.edu/artsguide</a>.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2017-02-22T12:00:00Z">Wed, 02/22/2017 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erich Burnett</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2364">Artist Recital Series</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2366">Guest Artists & Speakers</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28886">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/historical-performance" hreflang="und">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Sian Richards</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Four Days in Portugal</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 21:10:52 +0000</p> <span>Four Days in Portugal</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2017-02-10T16:10:52-05:00" title="Friday, February 10, 2017 - 16:10">Fri, 02/10/2017 - 16:10</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Flying to a foreign country on a school night is as exciting as it is disorienting. In the predawn hours of a late October morning, I set off from Cleveland for a short week of discovery at an international music conference in Portugal, joined by my friend and fellow baroque flutist Natalie Talbot ’17.</p> <p>Our trip was supported by the 91ֱ�� Conservatory student travel fund and made possible by our teacher, <a href="https://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/historical-performance/faculty_detail.dot?id=20957">Michael Lynn</a>. A longtime professor of recorder and Baroque flute at 91ֱ��, Lynn has enjoyed a diverse career not only as an educator, but as a <a href="http://www.originalflutes.com/">flute collector</a>, acclaimed soloist, columnist for several flute magazines, and as a founding board member of Cleveland’s acclaimed Baroque orchestra, Apollo’s Fire. Internationally recognized for his expertise, Lynn hosted a <a href="http://clevelandclassical.com/oberlin-19th-century-flute-extravaganza-a-conversation-with-michael-lynn/">conference on 19th-century French flutes</a> at 91ֱ�� in fall 2015.</p> <p>Lynn’s work caught the attention of Patricia Bastos, director of Portugal’s National Association for Musical Instruments (known by its Portuguese acronym ANIMUSIC). She invited him to curate flute presentations for its 2016 Organological Congress, where myriad instruments—from the historic carillons of Mafra to the keyed trumpet—were presented, demonstrated, and performed at picturesque castles and libraries. Because the conference’s focus for 2016 was on flutes, Lynn encouraged us to join in the experience too.</p> <p>After an overnight flight to Lisbon and a two-hour bus ride, we settled in the lovely and inviting host town of Tomar. There, we connected with our professor and more than a dozen other international performers and musicologists at the town library—the conference’s home base—and left on a bus to the famous Castelo de Tomar, an original 12th-century Templar stronghold. Several participants presented papers at the castle, followed by performances by Lynn and others. Their playing in these exceptional medieval acoustical spaces proved to be one of the trip’s most magical moments.</p> <p>The next day brought more travel, this time to a convent-turned-museum overlooking the town of Abrantes. There, a series of presentations included Lynn and scholars from Canada, Romania, and Portugal. The day continued with an organ concert a short walk from the convent, a stop at a Portuguese dessert festival in the nearby town, and dinner at a medieval restaurant back in Tomar. Both intellectually and gastronomically stimulating—with multiple coffee and cookie breaks—this was the best day of the trip overall.</p> <p>Day 3 was filled with lectures and papers presented at the Tomar town library. Here, the conference’s “Flute Focus” theme came to its peak with a comparison by Belgian flutist and maker Jan de Winne of original flutes to modern copies, and the inherent acoustical challenges historical instrument makers face living in the modern age. In order to help attendees understand the sweetness of antique flutes, one flute by the 18th-century maker Carlo Palanca—now owned by Winne—was available to play. (Lynn estimates about 28 original Palanca flutes exist in private and museum collections.)</p> <p>Later in the day, Natalie and I played a French trio—Boismortier’s Trio Sonata No. 1, Op. 7—with a fellow flute student from Portugal. Although nerve-wracking to be among so many fine international traverso players, the performance went very well, and Natalie and I were relieved.</p> <p>Our final day was busy with three destinations, first to nearby Constancia, where we visited the Igreja Matriz and its historical organ, expertly played and presented by local organist Ana Elias. We continued with a trip to beautiful Margarida Park and its tropical butterfly garden, where nature intermingled with more presentations of scholarly papers. Later, Elias performed on a portable carillon, resulting in what was perhaps the most unusual but enjoyable concert I have ever attended.</p> <p>Our bus stopped at a few picturesque castles before delivering us back in Tomar for a final goodbye soiree at the library. Natalie and I reluctantly parted with the friends we had made on our journey—especially Bastos, ANIMUSIC’s director and a tireless advocate for Portuguese music and international collaboration. The next morning, we boarded an early train to Lisbon and began our 16 hours of travel back to 91ֱ�� and the second half of fall semester.</p> <p>Though it lasted little more than four days, it was a life-changing trip for me. The ability to meet and perform with international professionals and students away from the “91ֱ�� bubble” was exactly what all conservatory students should experience: a chance to take a risk, travel, and experience the international language of music.</p> <p><i>Christine Jay is a fifth-year, double-degree student pursuing vocal performance, baroque flute, and Italian translation. Natalie Talbot will complete a master’s degree in historical performance at 91ֱ�� in 2017.</i></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2016-12-09T12:00:00Z">Fri, 12/09/2016 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Christine Jay ’17</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2357">Double Degree Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28886">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/historical-performance" hreflang="und">Historical Performance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Baroque flutists Natalie Talbot '17 (left) and Christine Jay '17 devoted a week of their fall semester to attending an international musical instrument conference in Portugal.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Christine Jay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Harpsichordist Mark Edwards Named to Historical Performance Faculty</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:01:35 +0000</p> <span>Harpsichordist Mark Edwards Named to Historical Performance Faculty</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:01:35-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:01">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:01</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Mark Edwards, first-prize winner at the 2012 Musica Antique Bruges International Harpsichord Competition, has been named Assistant Professor of Harpsichord at the 91ֱ�� Conservatory of Music. His appointment begins July 1.</p> <p>Edwards will be the successor to <a href="http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/faculty/faculty-detail.dot?id=21289">Webb Wiggins</a>, a fixture on 91ֱ��’s historical performance faculty, who is retiring at the end of the 2015-16 school year.</p> <p>A native of Canada, Edwards has presented solo recitals at numerous major festivals and series, among them the Utrecht Early Music Festival, Bozar, and the Montreal Baroque Festival and Clavecin en concert. He has performed concertos with prominent ensembles including Il Gardellino, Neobarock, and Ensemble Caprice, and he has played chamber music with Il Pomo d’Oro, Les Boréades de Montréal, and Flûtes Alors! His debut solo CD, <i>Orpheus Descending</i>, is due for release in 2016.</p> <p>“Mark Edwards brings the listener to new and unpredictable regions, using all the resources of his instrument...of his virtuosity and of his imagination,” <i>La Libre Belgique</i> wrote in 2012.</p> <p>"I'm very pleased to be joining the faculty of 91ֱ�� Conservatory," says Edwards, who performed on campus March 28. "During my first visit, I worked with some of 91ֱ��'s fantastic students: inquisitive, creative, hard-working, independent musicians who understand the harpsichord as an expressive instrument in its own right. 91ֱ�� has a strong tradition of historical performance as an integral part of contemporary musical culture, and I very much look forward to contributing to that tradition."</p> <p>"We are excited to welcome Mark to 91ֱ��," says Associate Professor of Historical Performance David Breitman, who is also director of 91ֱ��'s Historical Performance Program. "He combines the flair of a top-notch performer with the rigor of a scholar—and he brought these two aspects together in an impressive way by opening his 91ֱ�� recital with a beautiful improvisation in the style of Louis Couperin."</p> <p>Edwards earned a bachelor of music with highest distinction from the Eastman School of Music, followed by graduate degrees from McGill University and the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg. He is a PhD candidate at Leiden University and the Orpheus Instituut, Ghent, where his studies focus on the intersection of memory, improvisation, and the concept of musical work. His teachers have included Robert Hill, William Porter, Hank Knox, and David Higgs.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2016-04-11T12:00:00Z">Mon, 04/11/2016 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erich Burnett</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28886">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/historical-performance" hreflang="und">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Elizabeth Delage</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>A Long-Forgotten Instrument Takes Center Stage at 91ֱ��</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:03:39 +0000</p> <span>A Long-Forgotten Instrument Takes Center Stage at 91ֱ��</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:03:39-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:03">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:03</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The long and somewhat tragic history of a glorious Viennese fortepiano gets a fascinating new chapter this weekend.</p> <p>On <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/faculty_recital_marilyn_mcdonald_violin_and_david_breitman_fortepiano#.VBBe6uv74hE">Saturday, September 13</a>, faculty pianist <a href="http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/historical-performance/faculty_detail.dot?id=20599">David Breitman</a> and violinist <a href="http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/strings/faculty_detail.dot?id=21003">Marilyn McDonald</a> will join forces on the <a href="http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/facilities/detail.dot?id=30366&buildingId=30234">Kulas Recital Hall</a> stage to perform Beethoven’s two best-known violin sonatas, opuses 47 and 96. The occasion will mark the 91ֱ�� debut of a 185-year-old fortepiano that has found a welcome home in America after weathering generations of obscurity in Europe.</p> <p>The instrument’s history is enmeshed with that of a 19th-century Italian noble family, in whose summer home the piano remained, virtually unplayed, for 170 years, its marvelously grained woods—European beech, maple, and walnut, among others—withering amid endless seasons in the unheated mansion. Crafted in 1829 by Anton Zierer, one of 30 piano makers toiling in Vienna at the time, the instrument changed hands in 1935 when an Italian artist and art historian bought the vacation home and its contents.</p> <p>When the estate was finally sold again in 2012, that man’s granddaughter, Marcella Calabi of New York, had the piano painstakingly restored and then shipped to the United States. She tried desperately to find a nearby location it could call home, but various snags proved insurmountable: The piano was slightly too large to fit in the elevator of her Manhattan apartment, and considerably too temperamental to reside in a nearby museum that lacked suitable climate controls.</p> <p>“She basically said, ‘I have tried my best to care for this, and I could not,’” says Breitman, director of the conservatory’s <a href="http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/historical-performance/">historical performance program</a>.</p> <p>Enter 91ֱ��, which acquired the piano from Calabi over the summer.</p> <p>“When I first laid my hands on it, the first thing that was obvious to me is that this instrument is critical for chamber music,” says Breitman. Modern pianos, he notes, are four times more powerful than they used to be—a circumstance that often results in ensemble performances in which the thunderous keyboard squashes other instruments in ways certainly not intended by Beethoven and other 19th-century composers.</p> <p>Not so with the Zierer, which like other fortepianos of its era, is crafted so that its output does not overwhelm the room. Also like other instruments of its time, it is a decidedly fickle partner, prone to constant fluctuations in tuning.</p> <p>While 91ֱ�� boasts an extensive collection of fortepianos—most of them reproductions—the Zierer is the institution’s only original in performance-level condition, a rarity in the world of vintage keyboards.</p> <p>“We couldn’t have taken this on without <a href="http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/piano-technology/faculty_detail.dot?id=235556">Robert Murphy</a>,” says Breitman, referring to the 91ֱ�� piano technician who specializes in historical instruments. Murphy devoted a considerable portion of his summer preparing the Zierer for the stage. “In this country, Robert is <i>the</i> guy for fortepiano restoration.”</p> <p>And what does the expert expect this weekend?</p> <p>“I’m never nervous when I tune a modern piano for performance,” says Murphy, who with colleague <a href="http://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/departments/piano-technology/faculty_detail.dot?id=20625">John Cavanaugh</a> stands by at each 91ֱ�� piano performance, ever ready to tweak—even repair—on the fly.</p> <p>“But with these old pianos,” Murphy admits with a smile, “I am always nervous, because <i>everything</i> can go wrong!”</p> <p><b><i>Beethoven’s Sonata in A Major, Opus 47, and Sonata in G Major, Opus 96, begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, September 13, in Kulas Recital Hall.</i></b></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2014-09-10T12:00:00Z">Wed, 09/10/2014 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Erich Burnett</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=29541">Piano</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28886">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/historical-performance" hreflang="und">Historical Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Associate Professor of Historical Performance David Breitman prepares for a recital of two Beethoven piano sonatas, which will mark the 91ֱ�� debut of a 185-year-old fortepiano acquired by 91ֱ�� in the summer of 2014.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erich Burnett</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>