Use It or Lose It: Railey Stern Yen Uses Fulbright to Reconnect with Taiwan</h1> <article> <h1>Use It or Lose It: Railey Stern Yen Uses Fulbright to Reconnect with Taiwan</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 25 May 2023 18:13:58 +0000</p> <span>Use It or Lose It: Railey Stern Yen Uses Fulbright to Reconnect with Taiwan</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-25T14:13:58-04:00" title="Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 14:13">Thu, 05/25/2023 - 14:13</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Railey Stern Yen looks forward to reuniting with family and reconnecting with the education system in Taiwan as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) next fall.</p> <p>A <a href="/admissions-and-aid/double-degree-program">double-degree</a> student with majors in economics and jazz performance and a minor in statistical modeling, Stern Yen applied for the Fulbright ETA because it aligns with his goal of working with children as a clinical psychologist, both as a practitioner and researcher. Ten years ago, a great aunt was instrumental in bringing Stern Yen to Taiwan to visit and attend school, and the experience left a positive, lasting impression. </p> <p>“I think living abroad is one of the best ways to develop as a person and expand your perspective, especially when using a different language,” says Stern Yen, who is from Oakland, California. “I am on the ‘lose it’ side of ‘use it or lose it’ with Mandarin, so being surrounded by other Mandarin speakers will help me learn to adapt and grow. I also feel like I am dealing with the same ‘lose it’ feeling with Taiwanese and Chinese culture. I am trying to regain some intuitive cultural understanding that I once had as a kid. It’s poetic to return to somewhere you once were, this time with something to give instead of just receiving from others.”</p> <p>This spring, Stern Yen learned the basic theories and application of teaching language in 91ֱ��’s new Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages course. He also has experience with one-on-one tutoring for math and music. Through 91ֱ��’s Junior Practicum, he worked as a teaching assistant for OhioGuidestone, a behavioral health agency, where the therapists and social workers informed his interest in working with young people.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Professor of Jazz Saxophone Gary Bartz, left, chats with Railey Stern Yen.</figcaption> </figure> <p>“The existence of an established Double Degree Program helped me grow a lot from the help of teachers and mentors with very different knowledge bases, all while (mostly) retaining my sanity,” he says, noting the bonds he made with faculty mentors in <a href="/conservatory/divisions/jazz-studies">jazz</a>, <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics">economics</a>, and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology">psychology</a>. He worked closely with his advisor, Assistant Professor of Economics <a href="/paul-brehm">Paul Brehm</a>, and he was a research assistant for psychology faculty members <a href="/clinton-merck">Clint Merck</a> and <a href="/katherine-lawson">Kailey Lawson</a>.</p> <p>“In the jazz department, I’ve had mentors who are also life coaches—particularly <a href="/gary-bartz">Gary Bartz</a>—but many others too. They helped me learn about growth and discipline in a way that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else.”</p> <p>Outside of the classroom, Stern Yen performed in the <a href="/conservatory/on-stage/ensembles">91ֱ�� Jazz Ensemble</a>, as well as a student-created Afro jazz ensemble and swing band. </p> <p>Stern Yen looks forward to immersing himself in the culture of Taiwan, including the music scene and night markets. “I want to explore as much of the country as I can, from malls in cities to vast rural areas, and just be a sponge. It doesn’t hurt that the food is delicious, including the school lunch.”</p> <p>His Fulbright begins the first of August 2023 and lasts 11 months. Following the Fulbright year, Stern Yen intends to apply for clinical psychology PhD programs, with a focus on working with children and adolescents. He also plans to find ways to continue his musical journey.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">A May 2023 graduate of the double degree program, Stern Yen will apply his experiences in teaching and working with youth.</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="2023-05-25T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/25/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</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=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2357">Double Degree Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2413">Social Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</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=25341">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=34691">Jazz Performance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=84821">Statistical Modeling</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="/gary-bartz" hreflang="und">Gary Bartz</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/paul-brehm" hreflang="und">Paul Brehm</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="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/jazz-studies" hreflang="und">Jazz Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Railey Stern Yen will teach English in Taiwan.</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">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Musicians to Play Famed New York City Venues Jan. 19, 20</h1> <p>eburnett — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 15:38:22 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Musicians to Play Famed New York City Venues Jan. 19, 20</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-12-21T10:38:22-05:00" title="Wednesday, December 21, 2022 - 10:38">Wed, 12/21/2022 - 10:38</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In January, some 250 91ֱ�� musicians will mark a singular moment in their young careers with a performance at New York’s fabled Carnegie Hall.</p> <p>And this time it’s <em>doubly</em> singular.</p> <p>The 91ֱ�� Orchestra, joined by three conservatory choral ensembles and four professional vocal soloists—among them two 91ֱ�� alumni—will present a program featuring the masterwork of one of 91ֱ��’s own: <em>The Ordering of Moses</em>, the 1932 oratorio by celebrated composer R. Nathaniel Dett, who in 1908 became the first Black double-major graduate of 91ֱ�� Conservatory and who went on to forge an exceptionally distinguished career as a composer, performer, educator, and choir director at Hampton University and other institutions.</p> <p>The concert takes place at 8 p.m., Friday, January 20, in Carnegie’s Stern Auditorium. It will be preceded on the evening of January 19 by a panel discussion on the life and legacy of Dett at Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall.</p> <p>91ֱ��’s 2023 runout to the Big Apple also includes two sets by the <a href="/node/68056">91ֱ�� Sonny Rollins Jazz Ensemble</a>, an eight-piece combo of standout conservatory musicians, at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, the intimate venue that is part of the Jazz at Lincoln Center complex. Showtimes are 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday, January 19.</p> <p>“Opportunities for performance and performative expression are central to the professional training of all musicians, and we are very proud to offer our students this opportunity to share their artistry in two of the world’s most celebrated venues for their craft,” says <a href="/node/49511">William Quillen</a>, dean of 91ֱ�� Conservatory. “Central to this remarkable experience is the opportunity we have to celebrate one of 91ֱ��’s own: R. Nathaniel Dett, a visionary musician and educator and one of 91ֱ�� Consevatory’s most distinguished alumni.”</p> <h2>“From Darkness to Light”</h2> <p>Any date with Carnegie Hall may be aptly considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 91ֱ��’s upcoming performance marks the second time in as many months that its conservatory ensembles will have graced the historic venue’s Perelman Stage: The 91ֱ�� Orchestra and choral ensembles performed before the 77th General Assembly of the United Nations at a Carnegie Hall gala on December 2. That engagement served as the symbolic kickoff of a new partnership between 91ֱ�� and the United Nations aimed at improving access to education and musical training for students all over the world.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>91ֱ�� Ensembles performed at Carnegie Hall in December 2022. (photo by Chris Lee)</figcaption> </figure> <p>The January 20 program begins with Johannes Brahms’ Tragic Overture, Op. 81 (1880), which opens with the striking of two blunt chords that, in the words of conductor Raphael Jiménez, send the audience on a “turbulent and sometimes gloomy ride with few glimmers of optimism.”</p> <p>It is followed by Iván Enrique Rodríguez’s 2018 musical essay <em>A Metaphor for Power</em>, which examines the assertion that “all men are created equal” through what the ASCAP Award-winning composer calls “an expanse of troublesome experiences visited by fleeting and unsuccessful moments of hope,” an analog of the experiences faced by many in America, including those who share the Puerto Rican composer’s Latino heritage.</p> <p>The evening concludes with Dett’s oratorio, initially composed while he was a graduate student in 1932 and expanded in 1937. It conveys the biblical story of Exodus and the journey from persecution to freedom, the composer deftly blending elements of his classical training with influences from Black folk songs and spirituals—a practice he learned as an undergraduate at 91ֱ�� and implemented throughout his career.</p> <p>The massive work summons the talents of the 96-piece 91ֱ�� Orchestra and 147 vocalists, including the 91ֱ�� College Choir, 91ֱ�� Gospel Choir, and Musical Union—the 91ֱ�� campus-community chorus that is one of the oldest U.S. ensembles of its kind. It features four soloists: 91ֱ�� alumni soprano <a href="https://chabrellewilliams.space/">Chabrelle Williams ’</a><a href="http://chabrellewilliams.space/">11</a> and tenor <a href="https://www.limmiepulliam.com/">Limmie Pulliam ’98</a>, as well as mezzo-soprano <a href="https://www.ronnitamiller.com/">Ronnita Miller</a> and baritone <a href="https://www.atholestill.com/artist/eric-greene/">Eric Greene</a>.</p> <p>The choral ensembles were prepared by conservatory faculty <a href="/node/6646">Gregory Ristow</a> and <a href="/node/351086">Ben Johns</a>.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Raphael Jiménez (photo by Tanya Rosen-Jones)</figcaption> </figure> <p>“This repertoire gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to high-level musical training, our commitment to new music, and our commitment to expanding the classical music canon, all wrapped around a theme of social justice—a theme that is central to the values of our institution,” says conductor Jiménez. “What is indeed a diverse and seemingly eclectic program has been curated with a sense of drama in mind—a drama that we all love to revive over and over: the journey from darkness to light.”</p> <p>The concert takes place at 8 p.m. Friday, January 20. Tickets ($15-$35) are available at <a href="https://www.carnegiehall.org/Events">carnegiehall.org</a> or by calling 212-247-7800. Carnegie Hall is at 881 7th Avenue in New York.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>R. Nathaniel Dett</figcaption> </figure> <p>The January 19 panel discussion, “Explorations of Political, Religious, and Cultural Context in R. Nathaniel Dett's The Ordering of Moses,” will examine Dett’s pioneering use of spirituals and folk songs as a basis for Western classical compositions—a practice he developed as a student at 91ֱ��. It will be moderated by <a href="/node/319121">Courtney-Savali Andrews</a>, 91ֱ��’s assistant professor of African American and African diasporic musics, and will feature a panel of distinguished guests: ethnomusicology professor Fredara Hadley of the Juilliard School, retired music theory professor Jeannie Ma. Guerrero of the Eastman School of Music, emerita professor of religion and women’s studies Cheryl Kirk-Duggan of Shaw University, choral professor Marques L.A. Garrett of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, professor Damien Sneed of the Manhattan School of Music, and Roland Carter, emeritus music professor Roland Carter of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and former music chair and choir director at Hampton University.</p> <p>In recent years, works by Dett—longtime staples of music programs at historically Black colleges and universities—have begun to appear more frequently on programs across America and in Europe. <em>The Ordering of Moses</em> made its Carnegie Hall debut in 2014; its U.K. premiere was presented by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in February 2022.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Courtney-Savali Andrews (photo courtesy of Andrews)</figcaption> </figure> <p>“It is fantastic to see a watershed moment in the programming of Dett’s repertoire across the nation and overseas,” Andrews says. “Eighty years after his death, it seems as if he is in the press now almost as much as he was when he was touring solo and with his ensembles throughout his 45-year career between Canada, America, and Europe. Audiences today would serve his legacy well to take a closer look at the layered aspirations of this great American composer, thought leader, and culture bearer.”</p> <p>The discussion takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Kaufman Music Center. Admission is free, but reservations are required by calling 212-501-3330. Kaufman Music Center is at 129 West 67th Street in New York.</p> <h2>Jazz at Dizzy’s</h2> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>91ֱ��'s Sonny Ensemble debuted at Dizzy's in 2019. (photo by Fadi Kheir)</figcaption> </figure> <p>Thursday evening continues with two performances by the 91ֱ�� Sonny Rollins Jazz Ensemble at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Lincoln Center, a short walk down Broadway from Kaufman Music Center. Established at 91ֱ�� through the support of the legendary saxophonist, the “Sonny Ensemble” made its New York City debut at Dizzy’s in January 2019. The return trip promises more original works, arrangements, and compositions by Rollins himself.</p> <p>Showtimes are 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 to $45 ($20 for students), in addition to a $21 food and beverage minimum per person. Call 212-258-9800 or visit <a href="http://www.jazz.org">www.jazz.org</a> for information and reservations. Dizzy’s is at 10 Columbus Circle in New York.</p> <p>Members of the Sonny Ensemble will arrive in New York early to begin a series of performance-visits with area schoolchildren and music programs in New York and New Jersey.</p> <h2>Sneak Previews</h2> <p>Northeast Ohio audiences will have opportunities to experience preview performances happening on campus prior to their departure for New York.</p> <p>The Sonny Ensemble will appear at the ’Sco—the student-run concert club on the lower level of Wilder Hall—<a href="http://www.oberlin.edu/events/concert_the_oberlin_sonny_rollins_jazz_ensemble">at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 15</a>.</p> <p>The complete Carnegie Hall program, featuring all four vocal soloists slated to appear in New York, <a href="/events/carnegie_hall_preview_concert_oberlin_orchestra_and_choirs">happens at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 17</a>, in Finney Chapel.</p> <hr> <p><em>Ticket info and more at <a href="/nyc2023">www.oberlin.edu/NYC2023</a>.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tour includes music by 91ֱ�� alumnus R. Nathaniel Dett performed at Carnegie Hall, jazz gigs at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola.</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="2022-12-21T12:00:00Z">Wed, 12/21/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</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=2596">Conservatory Tours</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3797">Sonny Rollins Jazz Ensemble</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="/raphael-jimenez" hreflang="und">Raphael Jiménez</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/courtney-savali-andrews" hreflang="und">Courtney-Savali Andrews</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/bobby-ferrazza" hreflang="und">Bobby Ferrazza</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/william-quillen" hreflang="und">William Quillen</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/gregory-ristow" hreflang="und">Gregory Ristow ’01</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-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Musicians Inspire Hope Through United Nations Performance at Carnegie Hall</h1> <p>eburnett — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 02:44:20 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Musicians Inspire Hope Through United Nations Performance at Carnegie Hall</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-12-03T21:44:20-05:00" title="Saturday, December 3, 2022 - 21:44">Sat, 12/03/2022 - 21:44</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>On the fabled New York City stage where musical dreams come true, dreams of a different sort took wing on December 2.</p> <p>Nearly 200 student musicians from 91ֱ�� presented a performance of works spanning three centuries in magnificent Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall. The private gala was held for the 77th General Assembly of the United Nations.</p> <p>The evening signaled the symbolic launch of an innovative new partnership between 91ֱ��, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office (UNITAR), and the Global Foundation for the Performing Arts (GFPA). 91ֱ�� is one of a select number of higher education institutions invited by UNITAR and the GFPA to participate in initiatives intended to improve access to education for students around the world and to enhance quality of life through education and the performing arts.</p> <p>The concert was dedicated to the work of Csaba Kőrösi, president of the U.N. General Assembly, and to diplomatic and U.N. staff communities around the world. It was sponsored by the U.N. Member States of Costa Rica, Ecuador, Monaco, Oman, Rwanda, Singapore, and Hungary.</p> <p>“Culture matters,” GFPA President Benjamin Woodroffe noted in his opening address to an audience of 1,800 diplomats and invited guests. “The arts can change lives, and the performing arts—music, dance, and theater—can sometimes say things that other mediums cannot. Collaboration is key, and this ensemble behind me has worked solidly and diligently for a number of months in a different part of the country to be here tonight. Music moves people, and a healthy society has a healthy arts sector.”</p> <h2 class="h3">A Musical Expression of Unity</h2> <p>Titled “A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges,” the evening’s theme acknowledged the critical juncture in the history of the U.N., a moment fueled by complex crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, international conflict, heightening issues related to climate change, global economic strain, and unprecedented humanitarian challenges.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption class="sr-only">91ֱ�� in NYC by the numbers:<br> <strong>86</strong> student instrumentalists<br> <strong>110</strong> vocalists<br> <strong>5</strong> chartered buses from 91ֱ��<br> <strong>487</strong> miles from 91ֱ�� to Carnegie Hall<br> <strong>112</strong> minutes of music performed<br> <strong>100+</strong> hours of rehearsal<br> <strong>61</strong> nations represented by the 91ֱ�� student body</figcaption> </figure> <p>What transpired onstage offered an affirmation of the transformative power of music to uplift, to fortify, and to heal.</p> <p>Under the direction of Raphael Jiménez, a professor of conducting and director of 91ֱ�� Orchestras since 2011, the program opened with Fanfare on <em>Amazing Grace</em>, Adolphus Hailstork’s triumphal interpretation of the enduringly powerful 18th-century spiritual. At the conclusion of the piece, Jiménez turned to scan the audience in search of Hailstork, who attended the concert. Before the conductor could locate the 81-year-old composer in the darkened hall, he rose from his seat near the back of the room and cheerfully bellowed, “If you’re looking for the composer, he’s out here. Hi folks!” as a redoubled round of applause arose around him.</p> <p>Following remarks by Woodroffe, Kőrösi, and 91ֱ�� President Carmen Twillie Ambar, the program continued with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18, the intellectually vibrant and emotionally charged work that revived the young composer at a time of early disillusionment with classical music. The performance featured soloist Byron Wei-Xin Zhou, a pianist on the artist roster of the GFPA.</p> <p>Closing the program was Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125—widely regarded as a celebration of irrepressible unity, with its iconic “Ode to Joy” hearkening back to an earlier performance of the work some 73 years ago, when Leonard Bernstein conducted it on the occasion of the U.N.’s historic Human Rights Day Concert at Carnegie Hall in 1949. 91ֱ��’s U.N. performance called upon the talents of 110 voices, encompassing the 91ֱ�� College Choir and Musical Union, and featuring 91ֱ�� alumni vocalists from the New York City area and four celebrated soloists: 91ֱ�� alumni mezzo-soprano Kathryn Leemhuis ’05 and tenor Joshua Blue ’16, as well as soprano Sarah Tisba and baritone Marco Chingari, both of Italy. It marked the first time an 91ֱ�� Orchestra led by Jiménez has performed Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony, a daunting task for orchestras of any pedigree.</p> <p>For the many 91ֱ�� students and alumni who graced Carnegie’s stage for the first time, the performance offered an indelible milestone in their musical journeys and an inspirational moment to fuel their continued artistic development.</p> <p>“Carnegie Hall is something we all aspire to,” said second-year soprano Ava Paul of Grand Junction, Colorado. Like many in the ensembles, the trip for Paul marked not only her first visit to Carnegie Hall, but also her first voyage to New York. “When I say I’m a singer, people always say, ‘Oh, are you going to play Carnegie Hall someday?’ Now I can say, ‘Yes, I actually am.’ It’s sort of a pinnacle I didn’t think I’d get to this soon in my career.”</p> <p>First-year alto Kat Kahler, a musical studies major in 91ֱ��’s College of Arts and Sciences from Charlottesville, Virginia, once visited Carnegie Hall to take in a performance as a middle-school student. “I can’t comprehend that it’s actually me on the stage now,” she said. “This is not something that a first-year in college normally does, and it’s just amazing.”</p> <p>For others, like oboist Clarissa Antoine of Walnut, California, the concert represented a capstone of sorts as graduation nears.</p> <p>“Tonight was my last concert with the 91ֱ�� Orchestra, and for that to mean playing Beethoven 9 for the United Nations Gala at Carnegie Hall is mind-blowing,” she said. “I’m so proud to be a part of this. Every rehearsal leading up to this performance has been so fulfilling, and I couldn’t ask for a better way to finish my time at 91ֱ��.”</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>Concertmaster Matthew Cone (photo by Chris Lee)</figcaption> </figure> <p>Concertmaster Matthew Cone, a fourth-year student from Buffalo, New York, alternated throughout the program between expressions of resolute focus and giddy exuberance.</p> <p>“It’s been an honor leading the orchestra for this concert,” he said. “Having this responsibility has been a great experience for me, and I’m super proud of us and all of the progress we have made over the past month. Playing such incredible music at Carnegie is an experience that I’m sure none of us will ever forget.”</p> <h2 class="h3" style="clear: both;">Worldwide Embrace of Education and the Arts</h2> <p><a href="/node/433166">Announced in September</a>, the partnership with UNITAR and the GFPA calls for a select number of U.S. institutions to invite applications from students around the world, with accepted students beginning degree programs as early as fall 2023. According to the agreement, 91ֱ�� will be the lone participating institution to welcome undergraduate students. Beginning in summer 2023, 91ֱ�� also will host an annual summer program for English speakers of other languages, an opportunity for students selected through the partnership to hone their language skills prior to beginning their education at 91ֱ�� and other U.S. partner campuses.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>91ֱ�� President Carmen Twillie Ambar addresses the United Nations at Carnegie Hall. (photo by Chris Lee)</figcaption> </figure> <p>“Article 1 of our charter says that the United Nations is to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations,” President Kőrösi said in his address. “Much of what we are doing here—and most everything that we want to achieve—is about reaching harmony through listening to each other, acting together, and understanding the deeper context together. Just like a work of art, harmony among our nations means peace. Harmony all over the globe means solidarity. Harmony in our hearts means respect.”</p> <p>President Ambar followed with an expression of 91ֱ��’s enthusiasm to be a key partner in the initiative, aligning the work that lies ahead with 91ֱ��’s historical commitment to improving access to education.</p> <p>“We believe that espousing art and education is an embrace of our common humanity, and this approach is a way to change the world,” Ambar said. “But we are under no illusion that 91ֱ�� can do this work alone. We believe that bold collaborations of like-minded institutions can achieve true, transformational progress. This partnership, for us, is about pursuing this effort to do good in the world…together.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/oberlin/albums/72177720304230827">Experience the Carnegie Hall concert</a> on Flickr. Learn more about the partnership on the <a href="/node/439171">United Nations Partnership page</a> at 91ֱ��.edu.</p> <p><em>Follow 91ֱ�� Conservatory (@oberlincon) and 91ֱ�� College (@oberlincollege) on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/91ֱ��College">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/oberlincollege/">Instagram</a> for dispatches from participating students.</em></p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>91ֱ�� musicians gathered at a Pennsylvania rest stop on the return trip home from Carnegie Hall. (photo by Kushagra Kar/91ֱ�� Review)</figcaption> </figure> <hr style="margin: 1.25rem 0;"> <p><em>The <strong>United Nations Institute for Training and Research</strong> (UNITAR) was established in 1963 pursuant to a United Nations General Assembly resolution. UNITAR is governed by a Board of Trustees with the mission to develop the individual, institutional, and organizational capacities of countries and other United Nations stakeholders through high-quality learning resources. Rooted in the goal of enhancing global decision-making and supporting country-level political and social action, UNITAR provides innovative learning resources to individuals, organizations, and institutions, with established programs offering advanced degrees in international leadership, diplomacy, law, and policy, as well as science and business. The partnership marks UNITAR’s first major program in arts and cultural education.</em></p> <p><em>The <strong>Global Foundation for the Performing Arts</strong> (GFPA) is an international foundation with a mission to provide valuable artistic education and professional support in service of those in the performing arts while fostering a global community and enabling cross-cultural exchange. A longstanding partner of UNITAR, the foundation is dedicated to supporting the performing arts, particularly in the realms of classical music and ballet through education, mentorship, and collaboration. GFPA is centered in the belief that young artists deserve professional guidance from experienced musicians in order to remain true to their artistic practice. The foundation provides advice to artists, competitions, and institutions dedicated to rewarding the world’s future performers. It has been a long-term partner of UNITAR.</em></p> <p><em><strong> 91ֱ��</strong> uniquely combines a world-class conservatory of music with a top-ranking liberal arts college. An independent institution in Ohio, 91ֱ�� was the first college to grant undergraduate degrees to women in a coeducational program and, historically, has been a leader in the education of African American students. The 91ֱ�� community is known for its commitment to social and global engagement and diversity. The Conservatory of Music provides flexible programs to prepare students as professional musicians and teachers of music. Deeply committed to academic excellence, 91ֱ��’s College of Arts and Sciences offers a rich and balanced curriculum in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. Recognizing that diversity broadens perspectives, 91ֱ�� is dedicated to recruiting a culturally, economically, geographically, and racially diverse group of students. 91ֱ�� aims to prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives essential to confront complex issues and to create change and value in the world.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">December 2 concert signals launch of partnership to improve worldwide access to education and arts training.</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="2022-12-03T12:00:00Z">Sat, 12/03/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</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=3859">United Nations Partnership</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2596">Conservatory Tours</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</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="/raphael-jimenez" hreflang="und">Raphael Jiménez</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/carmen-twillie-ambar" hreflang="und">Carmen Twillie Ambar</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Nearly 200 91ֱ�� students took part in a private gala performance for the General Assembly of the United Nations at Carnegie Hall.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pull-images field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yes</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-cte-images field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yes (Individual Images)</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">Chris Lee</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-37282" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-photo-gallery paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="section--photo-gallery o-flex--photo-gallery"> <p class="header-tag">Photo Gallery</p> <div class="o-flex--photo-gallery__grid"> <div class="o-flex--photo-gallery--overlay"> <div class="o-flex--photo-gallery--overlay__content"> <h2> Scenes from 91ֱ��'s U.N. performance at Carnegie Hall </h2> <div class="o-flex--photo-gallery--overlay__desc"> <p>The 91ֱ�� Orchestra and conservatory choral ensembles—some 200 musicians in all—joined forces for a performance before the United Nations General Assembly at New York City's Carnegie Hall on December 2, 2022. (photos by Chris Lee and Clarissa Antoine)</p> </div> <button class="btn js-modal" data-modal-prefix-class="fullscreen" data-modal-content-id="37282" data-modal-background-click="disabled"> View photo gallery </button> </div> </div> <div class="o-flex--photo-gallery__grid__img-wrapper"> </div> <div class="o-flex--photo-gallery__grid__img-wrapper"> </div> <div class="o-flex--photo-gallery__grid__img-wrapper"> </div> <div class="o-flex--photo-gallery__grid__img-wrapper"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="37282" class="photo-gallery-wrapper"> <div class="photo-gallery"> <div class="photo-gallery__slides"> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__wrapper"> <figure class="photo-gallery__slide"> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__image"> </div> <figcaption> <span class="figure__credit">Photo credit: Clarissa Antoine</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__wrapper"> <figure class="photo-gallery__slide"> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__image"> </div> <figcaption> <span class="figure__credit">Photo credit: Clarissa Antoine</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__wrapper"> <figure class="photo-gallery__slide"> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__image"> </div> <figcaption> <span class="figure__credit">Photo credit: Chris Lee</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__wrapper"> <figure class="photo-gallery__slide"> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__image"> </div> <figcaption> <span class="figure__credit">Photo credit: Chris Lee</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__wrapper"> <figure class="photo-gallery__slide"> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__image"> </div> <figcaption> <span class="figure__credit">Photo credit: Chris Lee</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__wrapper"> <figure class="photo-gallery__slide"> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__image"> </div> <figcaption> <span class="figure__credit">Photo credit: Chris Lee</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__wrapper"> <figure class="photo-gallery__slide"> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__image"> </div> <figcaption> <span class="figure__credit">Photo credit: Chris Lee</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__wrapper"> <figure class="photo-gallery__slide"> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__image"> </div> <figcaption> <span class="figure__credit">Photo credit: Chris Lee</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__wrapper"> <figure class="photo-gallery__slide"> <div class="photo-gallery__slide__image"> </div> <figcaption> <span class="figure__credit">Photo credit: Chris Lee</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="photo-gallery__navbar"> <figure class="photo-gallery__navbar__item"> </figure> <figure class="photo-gallery__navbar__item"> </figure> <figure class="photo-gallery__navbar__item"> </figure> <figure class="photo-gallery__navbar__item"> </figure> <figure class="photo-gallery__navbar__item"> </figure> <figure class="photo-gallery__navbar__item"> </figure> <figure class="photo-gallery__navbar__item"> </figure> <figure class="photo-gallery__navbar__item"> </figure> <figure class="photo-gallery__navbar__item"> </figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Gospel Choir Honors Spiritual Forebears with May 14 Performance</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 06 May 2022 18:59:35 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Gospel Choir Honors Spiritual Forebears with May 14 Performance</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-05-06T14:59:35-04:00" title="Friday, May 6, 2022 - 14:59">Fri, 05/06/2022 - 14:59</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The 91ֱ�� Gospel Choir will celebrate its first anniversary with a performance that pays tribute to two influential ensembles that preceded it: the Fisk Jubilee Singers, founded in Nashville in 1871, and the 91ֱ�� Black Ensemble, which came into existence a century later through the effort of two 91ֱ�� students.</p> <p>Delayed for a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 91ֱ�� Gospel Choir finally debuted in spring 2021 with an outdoor performance on Tappan Square. The second concert in its brief history will take place at 7:30 p.m. <a href="/events/oberlin_gospel_choir_la_tanya_hall_conductor_9073">Saturday, May 14</a>, in Finney Chapel.</p> <p>Like the 91ֱ�� Black Ensemble before it, the Gospel Choir welcomes student voices from across the college and conservatory.</p> <p>“Our current iteration of the Gospel Choir is, of course, inspired by those who came before us,” says <a href="/node/6696">La Tanya Hall</a>, an associate professor of jazz voice and director of the ensemble. The concert will feature songs that were staples of the early Fisk Singers, followed by selections popular at 91ֱ�� Black Ensemble concerts in the early 1970s. “We are more than excited that we get to share this music with our students, and we’re excited for people to hear how hard they’ve been working,” says Hall.</p> <h4>Pride and Perseverance</h4> <p>It was November of 1871 when the newly formed Fisk Jubilee Singers turned their dire fortunes around in 91ֱ��.</p> <p>By that time, Fisk University was only five years into its existence but already had fallen deep into financial disrepair. Founded in the wake of the Civil War for the education of freed slaves and other Black citizens, Fisk launched a student vocal ensemble that was charged with touring the North in search of desperately needed funding.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>An early photo of the Fisk Jubilee Singers.</figcaption> </figure> <p>The Fisk Jubilee Singers, as they soon came to be known, performed in towns along the route of the former Underground Railroad. They initially made their way toward Cincinnati and then to Columbus, their artistry earning acclaim among the mostly white audiences, but netting little in the collection basket. (They raised about $50 for their Cincinnati performance—and promptly donated it to families devastated by the Great Chicago Fire that had broken out only days earlier.) The singers considered abandoning their mission, but instead continued on to 91ֱ��, where they performed for a convention of influential ministers in the community’s First Church.</p> <p>With a selection of ballads complemented by spirituals they previously had sung only among themselves, the singers generated favorable word of mouth from their 91ֱ�� performance, and they were met soon after with a flood of new opportunities. They toured across the eastern U.S., appearing in countless churches and singing for luminaries of the time including Mark Twain and President Ulysses S. Grant, who had invited them to the White House. They encountered racism, illness, and fatigue as they went, but they exposed the world for the first time to the music of their culture, blazing a path of enlightenment and eventually returning to Nashville with sufficient funds to save their school. By 1873, the Fisk Singers mounted their first tour of Europe, performing for royalty throughout England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.</p> <p>Now completing its 150th anniversary celebration, the ensemble continues to light a beacon of hope through performances across the region and around the country.</p> <p>“The Fisk Jubilee Singers are a global inspiration for those of us who want to keep spirituals and gospel music alive,” says La Tanya Hall. “This music is such a vital part of the American musical landscape, and every opportunity to play it keeps this history of the music growing and evolving.”</p> <h3>Connecting to the Black Experience</h3> <p>“In some ways, I think we thought of the 91ֱ�� Black Ensemble as my generation’s version of the Fisk Jubilee Singers at 91ֱ��,” says Charles Woods ’73, who co-founded the student ensemble in January 1971 with fellow sophomore Everett Williams ’74, MMT ’74. Woods is quick to note, however, that their ensemble’s roots were grounded much more in creative release than fiscal or cultural imperative.</p> <p>The 91ֱ�� Black Ensemble started as so many student initiatives do at 91ֱ��: as a project for Winter Term, that period of focused study—on virtually any subject a student chooses—that takes place each year during the month of January.</p> <p>“In my mind, we were 19-year-olds doing something that we enjoyed,” says Woods, an economics major who went on to a career in information technology and education. “We were getting some support and having some fun.”</p> <p>“Some of us were involved in our churches, and some of us liked the idea of connecting to the Black experience in a way we typically did not experience at 91ֱ�� at that time, so it was bringing some of our background and history to the 91ֱ�� context. We just started putting the word out, and people started saying they were interested.”</p> <p>Their Winter Term project culminated in a late-January concert in Warner Concert Hall, then continued in the months that followed with performances in area churches and schools, as well as a live appearance on a Cleveland television station and a spring gig in Finney Chapel. In short order, the group’s roster had ballooned from 28 original members to 50.</p> <p>In its second year, the ensemble toured the East Coast and Southern U.S. By year three, Williams—a piano performance major who also pursued a master’s in music teaching—led a two-week tour of his native California that stretched from San Francisco to San Diego. Woods credits Al Wellington, from the 91ֱ�� admissions office, with arranging tour stops and accommodations with families whose children were interested in attending 91ֱ��. The ensemble continued to perform through 1979, with faculty support from voice professors Doris Mayes, Andrew Frierson, and others.</p> <p>Numerous efforts to revive the choir in the years since proved unsuccessful, until Hall took up the task shortly after joining the 91ֱ�� faculty in 2016. She is quick to credit the commitment of two longtime faculty members who made the 91ֱ�� Gospel Choir possible.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>La Tanya Hall<br> (photo by Tanya Rosen-Jones '97)</figcaption> </figure> <p>“The journey to reviving gospel music at 91ֱ�� really belonged in the hands of Wendell Logan and <a href="/node/6686">Bobby Ferrazza</a>, who lobbied for a choir to be a part of the conservatory curriculum,” say Hall. The late Logan created the jazz studies program at 91ֱ��, and Ferrazza—a professor of jazz guitar in the conservatory—served as its longtime director.</p> <p>“I set about designing a course that would be inclusive of all students in the college who wanted to celebrate this music,” Hall says. “When I learned about the 91ֱ�� Black Ensemble, it became doubly important to ensure that a gospel choir would again be a part of 91ֱ��. But Wendell Logan and Bobby Ferrazza laid the groundwork for what has come after them.”</p> <h3>Founders’ Day</h3> <p>The 91ֱ�� Gospel Choir’s May 14 concert will be presented in two sections. The first, “Remembering the Fisk Jubilee Singers,” features spirituals and other traditional tunes—including music and arrangements by 91ֱ��-educated composer Moses Hogan ’79—that were popularized by the ensemble a century and a half ago.</p> <p>Part two, “Remembering the 91ֱ�� Black Ensemble,” welcomes the return of the ensemble’s co-founders, Woods and Williams. Among the selections will be Leon Lumpkins’ “Wings of a Dove,” featuring Woods as vocal soloist with Williams at the piano. The program concludes with “Oh Happy Day,” an arrangement of an 18th-century hymn that was popularized in 1969 by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, who made it an international hit. A resounding blend of the sacred and the secular, the tune was a staple of 91ֱ�� Black Ensemble performances from the group’s inception.</p> <p>“It’s certainly a point of pride, as well as some excitement, to interact with the current iteration of the ensemble,” Woods says. “It’s amazing, and it’s rewarding, that we had an idea that has persevered over time.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Ensemble follows tradition set forth by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, 91ֱ�� Black Ensemble.</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="2022-05-06T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/06/2022 - 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 class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</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> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/la-tanya-hall" hreflang="und">La Tanya Hall</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/vocal-studies" hreflang="und">Vocal Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/jazz-studies" hreflang="und">Jazz Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">The 91ֱ�� Black Ensemble, founded in 1971 and seen here in 1976, performed until 1979. Longtime efforts to revive the group resulted in the creation of the 91ֱ�� Gospel Choir in 2021.</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 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>91ֱ�� Presents 'Music of Messiaen' mini-fest April 21-22</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 14:03:37 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Presents 'Music of Messiaen' mini-fest April 21-22</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-04-14T10:03:37-04:00" title="Thursday, April 14, 2022 - 10:03">Thu, 04/14/2022 - 10:03</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ�� Conservatory will celebrate the music of Olivier Messiaen with a forum discussion and a concert featuring expansive pieces written by the revered 20th century French composer and organist, with an intermission Q&A from the Finney Chapel Stage.</p> <p>On Thursday, April 21, Professor of Conducting <a href="/node/6651">Timothy Weiss</a>, Davis S. Boe Associate Professor of Organ <a href="/node/6761">Jonathan Moyer</a>, and guest pianist and Messiaen specialist <a href="https://www.jasonhardink.com/">Jason Hardink ’97</a> will engage in a discussion on the music and influence of Messiaen, who died 30 years ago this month. The free public forum takes place at noon at the Birenbaum Innovation and Performance Space, in the lower level of the Hotel at 91ֱ�� (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/10+E+College+St,+91ֱ��,+OH+44074/@41.2918524,-82.2168546,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x883a0a78dd52f959:0xe4eef665f34623c1!8m2!3d41.2918484!4d-82.2146659">10 E. College St.</a>).</p> <p>On <a href="/events/fridays_at_finney_contemporary_music_ensemble_9516">Friday, April 22</a>, at 7:30 p.m., the conservatory’s weekly Fridays at Finney series takes a decidedly <em>Messiaenic</em> turn with two large works by the composer created during an especially prolific period in his career between 1969 and 1974. First up is the later of the two pieces—the 90-minute, 12-movement <em>Des Canyons aux Étoiles</em> (“From the Canyons to the Stars”), commissioned by art patron Alice Tully to commemorate the United States bicentennial. Messiaen traveled to the American West to gain inspiration for the piece and he was particularly struck by the “wild and colorful" landscapes and birdsongs of Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, and Zion Park. This performance features 91ֱ��'s Contemporary Music Ensemble, under the direction of Weiss, with soloist Hardink at the piano.</p> <p>An extended intermission will include a Q&A opportunity with Weiss, Moyer, and Hardink, followed at 9:30 p.m. by a performance of Messiaen’s 80-minute solo organ work written in 1969, <em>Méditations sur les Mystère de la Sainte Trinité</em> ("Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity"). It consists of nine untitled meditations and is inspired by the words of St. Thomas Aquinas. For the <em>Méditations, </em>Messiaen<em> </em>developed a new aspect in his musical language which he called the "langage communicable" (communicable language). He created a musical alphabet, grammar, and a series of recurring musical themes to transliterate text into music.</p> <p>The mini-fest of sorts is the result of the rescheduling of Messiaen’s <em>Des Canyons</em>—which originally was to be performed during the height of the pandemic—and a desire by Moyer to perform <em>Méditations</em>. He suggested to Weiss that they seek out the same week, then agreed to share the same day.</p> <p>“Where else in the world would you ever have the opportunity to hear these two pieces together?” Moyer says. “Only in 91ֱ��! Messiaen’s music holds a very special place in the hearts of many musicians, and the chance to perform it for our community is both a great opportunity and a special offering.”</p> <hr> <p><em>Notice for visitors driving to campus: 91ֱ��’s campus modernization program to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions and water consumption will cause some temporary road closures and disruptions to parking access throughout campus. You can stay up to date at the <a href="https://carbonneutral.oberlin.edu/resources/activityupdates/">Sustainable Infrastructure Program website</a>.<br> <br> Parking in the Finney Chapel lot is limited. Nearby visitor parking is available in the following lots:</em></p> <p><em>· Northwest of the intersection of W. Lorain Street and Woodland Street</em></p> <p><em>· Behind Bosworth Hall (Fairchild Chapel) north of W. Lorain Street, accessible from both W. Lorain Street and N. Main Street</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Events to include noon discussion and performance of two mammoth works by the composer.</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="2022-04-14T12:00:00Z">Thu, 04/14/2022 - 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 class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</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=33331">Composition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=32966">Organ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=29541">Piano</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="/jonathan-william-moyer" hreflang="und">Jonathan William Moyer</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/timothy-weiss" hreflang="und">Timothy Weiss</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/contemporary-music" hreflang="und">Contemporary Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/keyboard-studies" hreflang="und">Keyboard Studies</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-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Opera Theater Presents “Il Matrimonio Segreto” March 24-27</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 19:47:19 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Opera Theater Presents “Il Matrimonio Segreto” March 24-27</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-03-04T14:47:19-05:00" title="Friday, March 4, 2022 - 14:47">Fri, 03/04/2022 - 14:47</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Italy’s Domenico Cimarosa churned out some 80 operas over a career that spanned no more than three decades of the late 1700s, earning considerable acclaim for them in the process. So perhaps it’s something of a surprise that only one of those works endures to this day.</p> <p>Cimarosa’s dramatic comedy <em><a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/oberlin_opera_theater_presents_il_matrimonio_segreto">Il Matrimonio Segreto</a> </em>(“The Secret Marriage”) achieved its staying power thanks to its giddily cheerful score and endearingly silly story to match. It’s still heralded today as a masterful work that measures up to those of his similarly prolific contemporary, Mozart.</p> <p>91ֱ�� Opera Theater will present <em>Il Matrimonio Segreto</em> in four performances at Hall Auditorium beginning Thursday, March 24, through Sunday, March 27.</p> <p>The opera is recognized for bridging the works of Mozart and those of prominent Italian composers who would follow in the 19th century. It’s also said to be the source of the world’s longest encore: At the conclusion of its Vienna premiere in 1792, Emperor Leopold II demanded a second performance on the spot.</p> <p>“It’s not like you’re getting a poor man’s Mozart,” says director <a href="/node/6931">Jonathon Field</a>, associate professor of opera theater at 91ֱ��. He notes that Cimarosa’s score includes no shortage of breathtaking—and challenging—parts for his conservatory cast. “This opera endures because, musically and theatrically, it is full of moments that lead you directly into Rossini and Donizetti. There are a lot of later Italian opera traditions in this piece, which makes it feel very familiar when you listen to it.”</p> <p>Among the opera’s groundbreaking conventions: “asides,” through which characters reveal their inner thoughts to the audience while keeping everyone else onstage in the dark; and “freeze” moments, in which the emotional heft of the scene leads the characters to pause the action and turn to the audience in disbelief.</p> <p>The story centers around the household of the wealthy businessman Geronimo, whose coterie includes daughters Elisetta and Carolina, sister Fidalma, and secretary Paolino, who has secretly married Carolina.</p> <p>Geronimo has arranged the marriage of his eldest daughter Elisetta to the wealthy Count Robinson, but his plans are rearranged when the Count falls for Carolina instead. Soon their love triangle spirals into a pentagon of sorts—filled with double crosses, confusion, and confessions.</p> <p>The opera’s libretto, the best-known work of Giovanni Bertati, is sung in its original Italian with English supertitles. The score is performed by the 91ֱ�� Orchestra under the direction of guest conductor Christopher Larkin.</p> <p><strong>TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW: </strong>91ֱ�� Opera Theater’s <em>Il Matrimonio Segreto </em>will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 24 through 26; the run concludes with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, March 27. Hall Auditorium is at 67 N. Main St. in 91ֱ��.</p> <p>Tickets ($10, $8 for all students) are available by calling 800-371-0178, by visiting Central Ticket Service (67 N. Main St., 91ֱ��) noon to 5 p.m. weekdays, or <a href="https://oberlinconservatory.secure.force.com/ticket#/">through the online box office</a>. All seating is general admission.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Cimarosa’s “Secret Marriage” influenced generations of Italian comedies that followed.</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="2022-03-04T12:00:00Z">Fri, 03/04/2022 - 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 class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</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=32971">Opera Theater</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/vocal-studies" hreflang="und">Vocal Studies</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-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Fridays at Finney Concert to Feature Conductor Robert Spano and Piano Soloist Peter Takács</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 20:24:30 +0000</p> <span>Fridays at Finney Concert to Feature Conductor Robert Spano and Piano Soloist Peter Takács</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-12-09T15:24:30-05:00" title="Thursday, December 9, 2021 - 15:24">Thu, 12/09/2021 - 15:24</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ��’s large ensembles have leaned into an enormous expansion of the usual repertoire heard on orchestral stages. Over the past eight weeks, the Contemporary Music Ensemble and 91ֱ�� Orchestra have performed 22 works by living composers, including four 91ֱ�� alumni and two current students.</p> <p>This week, for something a little different, they have been spending time with an old friend.</p> <p>For the <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/fridays_at_finney_oberlin_orchestra_3872">December 10 edition of 91ֱ��’s large ensemble series Fridays at Finney</a>, the 91ֱ�� Orchestra will present an all-Beethoven program. Guest conductor Robert Spano ’84 will lead the ensemble in the composer’s “Eroica” Symphony No. 3 and Piano Concerto No. 3.</p> <p>Spano is a six-time Grammy Award-winning music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Aspen Music Festival and School, and music director designate of the Fort Worth Symphony.</p> <p>Also featured on the program as soloist is 91ֱ�� Conservatory Professor of Piano <a href="/peter-takacs">Peter Takács</a>, a world-renowned expert in the piano music of Beethoven.</p> <p>“Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto is central to the pianist’s repertoire,” says Takács. “It is also a thrill to play a concerto with Bob Spano on the podium.</p> <p>“Bob is a rock-solid orchestral accompanist, making this essentially a chamber music experience. We are on the same musical wavelength, and the students in the 91ֱ�� Orchestra are responding enthusiastically to his precise and inspiring leadership,” he says.</p> <p>“Written in the dramatic key of C minor, the concerto features three distinct and characteristic movements,” offers Takács. “The first movement Allegro has a signature march-like rhythm. The Adagio that follows is in Beethoven’s deeply personal key of E major. And a rustic Rondo finale ends giddily in C major.”</p> <p>Spano chose the third symphony when he was presented with Takács' choice of concerto.</p> <p>“It’s so important for our students to perform the classical works of our tradition,” says Spano, “because that is the soil from which so many other things grow.”</p> <p>It’s also the perfect program for a December concert. “This concert pairing of the C minor concerto and the great 'Eroica' symphony in E-flat major is our gift to Beethoven on his 251st birthday,” says Takács with a smile.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Program is a celebration of Beethoven’s 251st birthday.</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="2021-12-09T12:00:00Z">Thu, 12/09/2021 - 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=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2974">Conservatory Alumni</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> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/robert-spano" hreflang="und">Robert Spano</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> <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">Angela Morris and Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Opera Theater Presents Handel's “Acis and Galatea” Nov. 11-14</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 14:39:08 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Opera Theater Presents Handel's “Acis and Galatea” Nov. 11-14</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-10-28T10:39:08-04:00" title="Thursday, October 28, 2021 - 10:39">Thu, 10/28/2021 - 10:39</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Two of the many star-crossed lovers of Roman mythology, Acis and Galatea made their debut in Ovid’s epic poem <em>Metamorphoses</em>, which encompassed some 250 tales weaving Mediterranean history with fanciful stories of creation.</p> <p>Their unlikely pairing—Acis was a mortal shepherd, Galatea a sea nymph—and tragic parting inspired the work of countless artists across a multitude of media. One of the most enduring depictions was that of George Frideric Handel, who crafted from the tale one of the world’s most admired “pastoral” operas, a style noted for turning its focus from the usual topics of the time—most notably matters related to the royal court—and toward the simplicity of life in the countryside.</p> <p><a href="/events/oberlin_opera_theater_presents_handelsacis_and_galatea">91ֱ�� Opera Theater presents Handel’s <em>Acis and Galatea</em> in four performances</a> in Hall Auditorium beginning Thursday, November 11, through Sunday, November 14. The Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.</p> <p>It marks the first fully staged production to welcome a full audience to Hall Auditorium since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p>Premiered in 1718 at a stately manor outside of London, the opera focuses on the courtship of the titular lovers and the confrontation that ensues when a jealous newcomer—the fearsome cyclops Polyphemus—aims to crush the young romance in a fit of rage.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Director Jonathon Field</figcaption> </figure> <p>At its core, <em>Acis and Galatea</em> explores the ways in which we are transformed by loss—and how we cling to hope amid the pain. In preparing the work for the stage, 91ֱ�� Opera Theater director <a href="/node/6931">Jonathon Field</a> pored over the earliest of source material: Ovid’s 2,000-year-old epic.</p> <p>“The thing I realized about it is that these are tales of people and gods who, because of extreme grief or calamity, become transformed into a tree or a rock,” says Field. “In our case, Acis gets transformed into a stream of water. The basic idea behind it is that extreme grief and extreme loss lead to a metamorphosis.</p> <p>“In our own lives,” Field continues, “people who have experienced extreme loss are never the same. People may say <em>You’ll get over it</em>, but you really don’t. You just have to learn to live with the new you that comes out of it. We are transformed by the sudden loss of those who are nearest and dearest to us, and that’s what this piece is all about.</p> <p>“Plus,” the ever-mirthful director is quick to note: “We’ve got a cyclops!”</p> <p>Also in typical Fieldian fashion, the production will include its share of visual treats—from the costuming to the elaborately crafted set, with its pair of “water features.”</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Guest conductor Matilda Hofman</figcaption> </figure> <p>Field likens the opera’s music to 18th-century pop songs, with its many repeated sung lines and melodies propelling the viewer through each scene.</p> <p>The libretto, by John Gay, will be sung in its original English by a cast of seven principal performers and a 16-member chorus. Handel’s score will be performed by the 91ֱ�� Orchestra under the direction of guest conductor Matilda Hofman, a faculty member at the University of California, Davis, who directed performances by 91ֱ��’s Sinfonietta and Contemporary Music Ensemble in November 2019.</p> <p>Tickets to Handel’s <em>Acis and Galatea</em> are $10 ($8 for students). They are available by calling 800-371-0178, <a href="https://oberlinconservatory.secure.force.com/ticket#/">online</a>, or by visiting the Central Ticket Service box office in the Eric Baker Nord Performing Arts Annex (67 N. Main St.) during business hours (noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday).</p> <p>The opera is presented in two acts with a total time of approximately two hours, including intermission.</p> <p><em>Please note: All 91ֱ�� students, employees, and guests are required to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Learn more about 91ֱ��’s COVID-19 policies and precautions on the <a href="/obiesafe">ObieSafe website</a>.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Fully staged production marks return of full audiences to Hall Auditorium for first time since fall 2019.</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="2021-10-28T12:00:00Z">Thu, 10/28/2021 - 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 class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</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=32971">Opera Theater</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/vocal-studies" hreflang="und">Vocal Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">This painting of Acis and Galatea (seen here in detail), by 17th-century French painter Claude Lorrain, is one of many artistic depictions of the ill-fated couple.</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 Wikimedia</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Conservatory Collaborates on “Resonate” Commissioning Project</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 13:08:18 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Conservatory Collaborates on “Resonate” Commissioning Project</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-10-14T09:08:18-04:00" title="Thursday, October 14, 2021 - 09:08">Thu, 10/14/2021 - 09:08</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ�� Conservatory has joined a consortium led by the <a href="https://detroitchamberwinds.org/">Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings</a> (DCWS) and Detroit’s <a href="https://thecarrcenter.org/">Carr Center</a> to embark on a multi-year artistic partnership that will explore the African diaspora through the lens of contemporary American chamber music.</p> <p>In addition to 91ֱ��, the consortium aligns with Bowling Green State University College of Musical Arts, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance, Michigan State University College of Music, and Western Michigan University School of Music.</p> <p>Titled <a href="https://detroitchamberwinds.org/programs/">Resonate</a>, the project will result in performances of new works by seven composers at each participating institution and culminates in a symposium in April 2023.</p> <p>91ֱ��’s connection to the project is Professor <a href="/node/6651">Timothy Weiss</a>, director of the conservatory’s Contemporary Music Ensemble and a longtime artistic partner with and conductor for DCWS.</p> <p>Weiss was tapped last spring to participate on a panel of musicians from each of the collaborating institutions to select composers for commissions. The committee selected seven American composers who vary in age—from mid-20s to early 80s—and professional accomplishment.</p> <p>“It was important for us to achieve a balanced field of composers, from the unknown to the long-established,” Weiss says. “And to create seven new works is a significant contribution to the contemporary chamber music art form.”</p> <p>The commissioned pieces will utilize between three and nine performers in instrumentation drawn from woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, and piano.</p> <p>Participating Resonate composers and the type of composition they have been commissioned to create include:</p> <p><a href="https://www.courtneybryan.com/">Courtney Bryan</a>, work for piano and string ensemble</p> <p><a href="/michael-frazier">Michael Frazier</a>, piece for flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, and string quartet</p> <p><a href="https://www.adolphushailstork.com/">Adolphus Hailstork</a>, composition for trombone and string quintet/orchestra</p> <p><a href="https://www.nathaliejoachim.com/">Nathalie Joachim</a>, reed quintet</p> <p><a href="https://music.columbia.edu/bios/george-e-lewis">George Lewis</a>, brass quintet </p> <p><a href="https://patricerushen.com/">Patrice Rushen</a>, jazz ensemble work for three saxophones, trumpet, trombone, piano, drums, bass, and guitar</p> <p><a href="http://www.pamelaz.com/">Pamela Z</a>, woodwind quintet</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Courtney Bryan</figcaption> </figure> <p>Among the composers are three with 91ֱ�� connections: 2004 conservatory alumna Courtney Bryan, newly appointed composition faculty member Michael Frazier, and former Visiting Professor of Composition George Lewis.</p> <p>The composers represent a wide range of musical voices and aesthetic sensibilities that include a more mid-century American style, some that bend distinctly modernist, one anchored in jazz, and others whose work combines and blurs styles and genres.</p> <p>Each of the commissioned works will be performed at every collaborating institution over the course of the next two years—a commitment that will generate a substantial performance history for each piece. All of them will then be performed at a culminating symposium—bringing together all seven composers with ensembles from each organization—in April 2023 at the Carr Center, the Detroit institution dedicated to promoting African and African American cultural experiences.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Michael Frazier</figcaption> </figure> <p>For more than 25 years, Weiss has brought new music to 91ֱ��’s stages and inspired young musicians to champion works of living composers. Scores of 91ֱ�� alumni careers have been generated by the fertile training ground of Weiss’ Contemporary Music Ensemble.</p> <p>During the past year, Weiss’ work at 91ֱ�� has been focused on amplifying the voices of underrepresented composers and expanding the repertoire performed within the conservatory’s large ensembles program, shaped in part by the conservatory’s <a href="/dean-of-the-conservatory/racial-equity-diversity-action-plan">Racial Equity and Diversity Action Plan</a>.</p> <p>This work squares beautifully with the purpose of Resonate, and Weiss is enthusiastic about 91ֱ��'s participation.</p> <p>“This will be a fabulous experience for our students to perform seven new works from diverse composers,” he says. “The project is a perfect fit for 91ֱ��—from how we celebrate the creation of new music to how our students are animated by the school’s small ensemble culture.”</p> <p>Frazier’s piece <em>Black Portraits</em> will be the first of the commissioned works to be performed on 91ֱ��’s campus. It is slated for the Contemporary Music Ensemble concert on Friday, January 12, 2022 on the Fridays at Finney series.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>George Lewis</figcaption> </figure> <p>Weiss anticipates additional opportunities for 91ֱ�� student involvement in conjunction with the April 2023 symposium in Detroit.</p> <p>“It will be a great opportunity for our students to engage in community outreach through music and interact with the composers and performers from the other institutions,” he says.</p> <p>DCWS President Maury Okun and Carr Center President Oliver Ragsdale note the strength of the collaboration in bringing this new music to life.</p> <p>“Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings and the Carr Center have adventuresome audiences that approach new works with open minds and kind hearts,” they said in a joint statement about the project. “By collaborating with these great institutions throughout Michigan and Ohio, we can extend that spirit of artistic generosity and significantly leverage the impact of these wonderful composers.”</p> <hr> <p><em>Learn more about 91ֱ��'s commitment in the <a href="/about-oberlin/presidential-initiative-racial-equity-and-diversity">Presidential Initiative on Racial Equity and Diversity</a> and the <a href="/dean-of-the-conservatory/racial-equity-diversity-action-plan">conservatory’s Racial Equity and Diversity Action Plan</a>.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Seven-way partnership engages seven composers to create works that explore the African diaspora, with all works to be performed in 91ֱ�� and Detroit.</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="2021-10-14T12:00:00Z">Thu, 10/14/2021 - 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=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2596">Conservatory Tours</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2974">Conservatory Alumni</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=33331">Composition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=34896">Jazz Composition</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="/timothy-weiss" hreflang="und">Timothy Weiss</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/michael-frazier" hreflang="und">Michael Frazier</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/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">Timothy Weiss leads the 91ֱ�� Contemporary Music Ensemble in a 2016 performance at Ganz Hall in Chicago.</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">Yevhen Gulenko</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Ensembles Present “Fridays at Finney” Throughout 2021-22</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 16:53:24 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Ensembles Present “Fridays at Finney” Throughout 2021-22</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-10-14T12:53:24-04:00" title="Thursday, October 14, 2021 - 12:53">Thu, 10/14/2021 - 12:53</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ�� Conservatory’s signature large ensembles, the 91ֱ�� Orchestra and Contemporary Music Ensemble, will present weekly concerts in historic Finney Chapel throughout the 2021-22 academic year.</p> <p>Called “Fridays at Finney,” the series represents a shift from the traditional rotation of each ensemble presenting a total of five or six performances per semester. Most concerts—including the <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/fridays_at_finney_oberlin_orchestra_and_contemporary_music_ensemble">first installment this Friday, October 15</a>—will include performances by both ensembles, while others will feature either the 91ֱ�� Orchestra or Contemporary Music Ensemble.</p> <p>Each performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and most of them will be approximately one hour in duration, some without intermission. This is a departure from previous concerts that typically ran closer to 90 minutes.</p> <p>The new format arose out of a strategic shift in the conservatory that is a fundamental facet of the campus’ <a href="/about-oberlin/one-oberlin">One 91ֱ��</a> initiative: At the heart of it is an emphasis on more—and more diverse—repertoire, greater flexibility in terms of ensemble sizes, and increased performance opportunities for students.</p> <p>In particular, the new format also reflects the conservatory’s intentional shift in repertoire selection to be less reliant on works from the traditionally recognized Western canon and more focused on newer works by composers of wide-ranging cultural backgrounds and experiences. The shift aligns with the conservatory’s <a href="/dean-of-the-conservatory/racial-equity-diversity-action-plan">Racial Equity and Diversity Action Plan</a>, which was introduced in September 2020.</p> <p>“With all the things that happened after the death of George Floyd, we opened our eyes—as everybody did—and took a deep look into what it is we can do to give a voice to those who are not widely represented in our field,” says <a href="/node/6636">Raphael Jiménez</a>, professor of conducting and director of 91ֱ�� orchestras. “It opened the door for us to extend the gamut of the repertoire we cover.</p> <p>“More important, the page was turned in terms of our relation to the classical music canon. We are more comfortable seeking repertoire that we know can provide the same pedagogical outcomes but that doesn’t necessarily have to draw from the same sources that have been our custom for centuries. We know we can accomplish our mission and at the same time give opportunities to young voices and voices of underrepresented composers.”</p> <p>Among the dozen Fridays at Finney programs that make up the fall semester schedule, some 70 percent of the repertoire was written by living composers, and nearly 40 percent is by composers of color. Alongside works by Beethoven, Haydn, Ravel, and other traditionally recognized masters, audiences will hear the music of 20th and 21st century composers from around the world.</p> <p>This week’s first concert even includes a world premiere: a performance of Carlos Simon’s <em>Graffiti</em>, a work co-commissioned by 91ֱ��. Also on the program is <em>Dallas Arts District Fanfare</em> by Quinn Mason, <em>warp & weft</em> by Sarah Gibson, <em>A Simple Prayer</em> by 91ֱ�� alum Richard Danielpour ’78, <em>Onward</em> by Brian Raphael Nabors, and <em>Gift</em> by Zhou Tian.</p> <p>Learn more about future programs using the <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/calendar/month?event_types%5B%5D=19263">online events calendar</a>.</p> <p><em>Please note: Through October 18, all 91ֱ�� students, employees, and guests are required to wear masks indoors and outdoors, regardless of vaccination status. Learn more about 91ֱ��’s COVID-19 policies and precautions on the <a href="/obiesafe">ObieSafe website</a>.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Weekly performances continue shift toward more wide-ranging, inclusive repertoire.</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="2021-10-13T12:00:00Z">Wed, 10/13/2021 - 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 class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2370">Ensembles & Orchestras</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="/raphael-jimenez" hreflang="und">Raphael Jiménez</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> <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">Yevhen Gulenko</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>