91ֱ�� Improv Fest 2023 Celebrates Range of Creative Practices</h1> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Improv Fest 2023 Celebrates Range of Creative Practices</h1> <p>cstrauss — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 17:03:21 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Improv Fest 2023 Celebrates Range of Creative Practices</span> <span><span>cstrauss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-03-02T12:03:21-05:00" title="Thursday, March 2, 2023 - 12:03">Thu, 03/02/2023 - 12:03</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>This year 91ֱ�� students have had the opportunity for the first time to declare a minor in a new formalized course of study in improvisation. And from Thursday, March 2 through Saturday, March 4, they will have an immersive experience in the 91ֱ�� Improv Fest 2023. All events of the festival are also open to audiences and are free.</p> <p>The festival kicks off on Thursday at noon in the Birenbaum with a panel discussion with faculty and guest artists. <a href="/la-tanya-hall">La Tanya Hall</a>, associate professor of jazz voice, will moderate a discussion about improvised music and improvisation in the creative process with the four guest artists of the festival—flutist and composer <a href="https://www.nicolemitchell.com">Nicole Mitchell</a>; shakuhachi player and composer <a href="https://kojiroumezaki.com">Kojiro Umezaki</a>; multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer <a href="https://www.auroranealand.com">Aurora Nealand ’01</a>; and jazz pianist and composer <a href="https://luisperdomojazz.com">Luis Perdomo</a>—and 91ֱ��’s Visiting Assistant Professor of Baroque Violin <a href="/edwin-huizinga-06">Edwin Huizinga '06</a>.</p> <p>The events that follow over the three days encompass workshops, presentations, and performances that showcase exciting performances with AI-based interactive and immersive sound, group improvisation, jazz, and students in 91ֱ��'s Performance and Improvisation program. </p> <p><a href="/dana-jessen">Dana Jessen</a>, 91ֱ��’s associate professor of contemporary music and improvisation and a key organizer of Improv Fest, shares that the inspiration for the festival “came about as a means to celebrate the many outlets for improvisation on campus, and at the same time, bring together world-renowned artists to interact with our students and community.” Festival co-organizer is <a href="/aurie-hsu">Aurie Hsu '96</a>, associate dean for academic affairs and a professor in <a href="/timara">TIMARA</a>.</p> <p>Jessen continues, “Improvisation is deeply rooted within 91ֱ��'s campus, from official ensembles and courses, to student-led groups and initiatives.”</p> <p>In fact, improvisation has been emphasized at 91ֱ�� Conservatory for generations—from early practices in organ, to historical performance, as well as free jazz, fusion, electronic music, and more recently in non-Western idioms explored in 91ֱ��’s Performance and Improvisation (PI) Program. Courses and ensembles in PI provide students with the opportunity to enrich their existing musical vocabularies and skills through practical exploration of many different world musics and improvisation across a range of genres and styles. This study is fundamental to 91ֱ��’s directive to optimally prepare musicians for any number of potential 21st-century career paths.</p> <p>“The festival aligns with 91ֱ��'s new improvisation minor in that it seeks to convey how improvisation can be a thread that connects different areas of music-making,” says Jessen. “The scope of the festival itself in many ways mirrors the many pathways that students could pursue in the minor.”<br> <br> In choosing the guest artists for the festival, Jessen describes, “Improvisation takes many forms and the festival artists represent a range of practices, styles, and traditions. Our events throughout the festival highlight the breadth of their work, as well as the range of offerings on campus. These include Afrofuturism, interactive electronic improvisation, non-western idioms, jazz, historical performance, conducted improvisation, free music, and songwriting.”</p> <p>Each of the four guests will appear in concert during the festival, highlighting an experience for listening audiences.</p> <p>Nealand and Umezaki will collaborate on Thursday, March 2 at 8:30 p.m. in the Birenbaum. Mitchell’s concert on Friday, March 3 at 8:00 p.m., also in the Birenbaum, will involve jazz studies students and faculty performers in performances of her works. Students in 91ֱ��’s PI Program will collaborate with jazz pianist Perdomo on his festival closing concert on Saturday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse.</p> <p>“These performances will highlight the high level of musicianship connected to these practices,” emphasizes Jessen.</p> <p>Additional concerts feature 91ֱ��’s student small jazz ensembles at the weekly Jazz Forum held at the Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse on Friday, March 3 at noon. A Student Showcase performance with OCTaiko, the Silent Film Ensemble, 91ֱ�� Creative Music Lab, and 91ֱ�� Percussion Group takes place on Saturday, March 4 at Wilder Hall’s Main Theater.</p> <p>Jessen expresses “hope is that the festival will bring our community together and offer inspiration for students to explore the many pathways to improvisation, while the workshops and presentations will offer an entryway for newcomers.”</p> <p><strong>91ֱ�� Improv Fest 2023 Event Schedule</strong></p> <p>PANEL DISCUSSION: GUEST ARTISTS AND FACULTY<br> Thursday, March 2, 12:00-1:30 PM<br> Birenbaum Innovation and Performance Space, Hotel at 91ֱ��</p> <p>GUEST MASTER CLASS: JAZZ PIANIST LUIS PERDOMO<br> Thursday, March 2, 4:00-5:00 PM<br> Clonick Hall</p> <p>PRESENTATION: KOJIRO UMEZAKI<br> Thursday, March 2, 4:30-6:00 PM<br> Birenbaum<br> Umezaki presents his work featuring global and hybrid practices in acoustic and electronic music.</p> <p>PRESENTATION: NICOLE MITCHELL<br> Thursday, March 2, 7:00-8:15 PM<br> Stull Recital Hall<br> The music that flutist, composer, bandleader, and educator Nicole Mitchell creates celebrates contemporary African American culture and explores intercultural collaborations. In her presentation, she will discuss Afrofuturism.</p> <p>CONCERT: AURORA NEALAND AND KOJIRO UMEZAKI<br> Thursday, March 2, 8:30 PM<br> Birenbaum </p> <p>PERFORMANCE: JAZZ FORUM<br> Friday, March 3, 12:00 PM<br> Cat and the Cream Coffee House<br> 91ֱ�� student jazz ensembles perform.</p> <p>SONGWRITING WORKSHOP: AURORA NEALAND '01<br> Friday, March 3, 3:30-5:30 PM<br> Stull Recital Hall</p> <p>CONCERT: NICOLE MITCHELL<br> Friday, March 3, 8:00 PM<br> Birenbaum</p> <p>ORGAN WORKSHOP: CHRISTA RAKICH ’75<br> Saturday, March 4, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM<br> Finney Chapel<br> “How To Sound Like Messiaen”</p> <p>INFO SESSION: IMPROVISATION MINOR WITH DANA JESSEN<br> Friday, March 4, 12:00-1:00 PM<br> Birenbaum<br> The Improvisation Minor draws upon several departments across the conservatory and college, enabling students to create a pathway that suits their artistic interests.</p> <p>SOUNDPAINTING WORKSHOP: DREW PATTISON ’10<br> Saturday, March 4, 1:30-3:00 PM<br> Central 25<br> Soundpainting is the universal multidisciplinary live composing sign language for musicians, actors, dancers, and visual artists, developed by Walter Thompson. Drew Pattison '10, assistant professor of bassoon, will engage workshop participants in improvisation and group interaction through the conducted Soundpainting language.</p> <p>CONCERT: STUDENT SHOWCASE<br> Saturday, March 4, 4:30-6:30 PM<br> Wilder Hall - Wilder Main Theater</p> <p>CONCERT: PIANIST LUIS PERDOMO WITH OBERLIN PI ENSEMBLE<br> Saturday, March 4, 7:30 PM<br> Cat and the Cream Coffee House</p> <hr> <p><em>91ֱ�� Improv Fest 2023 is organized with support from TIMARA, Conservatory Deans Office, Conservatory Professional Development, and the Alumni in Service to 91ֱ�� College (ASOC) Fund.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The three-day festival, running March 2-4, presents 13 events; brings guest artists to campus to teach and perform</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="2023-03-02T12:00:00Z">Thu, 03/02/2023 - 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=2865">Performance & Improvisation (PI)</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3874">Improvisation</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=32966">Organ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33031">TIMARA</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=464502">Improvisation</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="/dana-jessen" hreflang="und">Dana Jessen</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/aurie-hsu" hreflang="und">Aurie Hsu ’96</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/la-tanya-hall" hreflang="und">La Tanya Hall</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/edwin-huizinga-06" hreflang="und">Edwin Huizinga ’06</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/christa-rakich" hreflang="und">Christa Rakich</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/drew-pattison" hreflang="und">Drew Pattison</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/jazz-studies" hreflang="und">Jazz Studies</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/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-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">From top, L-R: Luis Perdomo, Kojiro Umezaki, Aurora Nealand '01, Nicole Mitchell</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 the artists</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Trailblazing Musician Wu Man in Residence at 91ֱ��</h1> <p>jreinier — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 16:52:16 +0000</p> <span>Trailblazing Musician Wu Man in Residence at 91ֱ��</span> <span><span>jreinier</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-02-20T11:52:16-05:00" title="Monday, February 20, 2023 - 11:52">Mon, 02/20/2023 - 11:52</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>This is due in large part to the artist Wu Man, recognized as the world’s premier pipa virtuoso and a leading ambassador of Chinese music. She’ll be in residence at 91ֱ�� February 24-25 and take part in three events across campus that culminate in a concert with 91ֱ�� College quartet-in-residence, the <a href="/verona-quartet">Verona Quartet</a>. All events are free and open to the public.</p> <p>Wu Man has carved out a career as a soloist, educator, and composer, giving the pipa a new role in both traditional and contemporary music. The creative projects she has initiated have resulted in the instrument finding a place in numerous musical settings and genres, as well as in collaborations in theater productions, film, dance, and with visual artists.</p> <p>Born in Hangzhou, China, Wu Man was an early trailblazer. She was hailed as a child prodigy at age 13 and went on to earn the first master's degree in pipa the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. She moved to the U.S. in 1990 and was awarded a Bunting Fellowship at Harvard Radcliffe in 1998.</p> <p>Since then, she has performed as a soloist with many of the world’s major orchestras and is the leading interpreter of contemporary pipa music written by composers including Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Tan Dun, and Bright Sheng.</p> <p>Her notable career has also been marked by several “firsts.” She was the first Chinese traditional musician to receive the United States Artist Fellowship and the first artist from China to perform at the White House. In 2013, she was named Musical America’s Instrumentalist of the Year.</p> <p>She is a founding member of the Silkroad Ensemble and is a frequent collaborator with ensembles such as the Kronos and Shanghai Quartets.</p> <p>It is her work with quartets—as well as her performance at Portland’s Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival—that inspired the Verona Quartet to reach out to Wu for a new collaboration.</p> <p>“We were at the festival and heard Wu Man’s concert, and were so struck by her artistry,” says Verona’s cellist, Jonathan Dormand. “That was the genesis of this particular project.”</p> <p>Dorothy Ro, Verona Quartet second violinist, expanded: “Wu Man has commissions from leading composers and is a composer herself. This program came together through a conversation about the meeting point between the western classical string quartet and the Chinese folk idiom, as well as how this interaction could become a mechanism for exploring the voices of global cultures and traditions.”</p> <p>The members of the multi-award-winning Verona Quartet hail from locations far and wide: first violinist Jonathan Ong is from Singapore; Ro is Canadian; violist Abigail Rojansky ’11 is from the San Francisco Bay area; and Dormand is from England.</p> <p>Dormand explained, “We come from all over, so the notion of ‘home’ is something that we’re very interested in exploring. Every culture, from every corner of the world, has discovered a way to find expression through music.”</p> <p>The partners have titled the program, "Goin' Home: An exploration of nostalgia and searching for home." “Goin Home” is sourced from Antonín Dvořák’s song setting in the Largo movement of his “New World” symphony—and it is the idea of “home” that serves as the guidepost for the music chosen. The performance here in 91ֱ��’s Warner Concert Hall will be the first for the collaboration. They will be on tour with this program next season.</p> <p>Wu Man’s residency at 91ֱ�� begins with a lecture on at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 24 in Dye Lecture Hall. Part of <a href="/events/guest_lecture_pipa_virtuoso_wu_man_unexpected_cross-cultural_collaborations">91ֱ�� Shansi’s Jacobson-Cocco Lecture Series</a>, she will give a talk, “Unexpected Cross-Cultural Collaborations,” about her personal journey creating a career for herself in a country which had no pipa tradition.</p> <p>On Saturday, February 25, Wu Man’s work turns to the Conservatory, first with a <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/guest_master_class_wu_man_pipa_6562">10:30 a.m. master class </a>for students in 91ֱ��’s Performance and Improvisation program. Performance and Improvisation (PI) Ensembles provide an opportunity for students to enrich their existing musical vocabularies and skills through practical exploration of many different world musics and improvisation across a range of genres and styles.</p> <p><a href="/events/verona_quartet_with_wu_man">That evening at 7:30</a>, audiences will be treated to the concert. They will perform works by John Dowland, Antonín Dvořák, Luigi Boccherini, Sulkhan Tsintsadze, Zhao Jiping, and Wu Man. The concert is free, but <a href="/tickets/event-details?EventId=5201">reservations are required</a>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The pipa virtuoso and composer will perform with the Verona Quartet, teach, and lecture</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="2023-02-20T12:00:00Z">Mon, 02/20/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Cathy Partlow Strauss</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The pipa is not an instrument on which students at 91ֱ�� Conservatory perform, but the lute-like instrument developed in China more than 2000 years ago is influencing increasingly more concert music found on stages throughout the world.</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=2366">Guest Artists & Speakers</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2397">Shansi</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3341">Conservatory Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2865">Performance & Improvisation (PI)</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="/verona-quartet" hreflang="und">Verona Quartet</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/strings" hreflang="und">Strings</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 the Verona Quartet and Wu Man</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Conservatory Establishes Minor in Improvisation</h1> <p>eburnett — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 20:22:05 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Conservatory Establishes Minor in Improvisation</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-01-25T15:22:05-05:00" title="Tuesday, January 25, 2022 - 15:22">Tue, 01/25/2022 - 15:22</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>For jazz musicians and orchestral musicians and every musician in between, the ability to improvise on their instruments can be as vital as reading notes on a page.</p> <p>Beginning in fall 2022, improvisation at 91ֱ�� Conservatory will be formalized into a <a href="/improvisation">minor course of study</a> that will be available to them all.</p> <p>The new minor offers students the opportunity to bolster their artistry through the performance of improvised music and through study of practices related to improvisation.</p> <p>“Improvisation can be a thread that connects lots of different areas of music-making,” says <a href="/node/30066">Dana Jessen</a>, associate professor of contemporary music and improvisation and chair of the improv minor. “Improv has always been deeply rooted within the conservatory in myriad forms, be it free jazz and creative music, fusion, historical performance, non-Western idioms, or electronic music.</p> <p>“The minor in improv allows us to recognize and celebrate the musical and creative pathways that our students are already pursuing, while also providing opportunities for students to explore new modes of playing through a range of improvisatory practices and music-making.”</p> <p>In particular, Jessen notes, improvisation provides encouragement and support for the exploration of a wide variety of genres and styles, such as those often studied by the conservatory’s <a href="/news/conservatory-program-emerges-space-between-classical-and-jazz">Performance and Improvisation</a> (PI) ensembles, through which jazz and classical students frequently share the stage.</p> <p>The improv minor does not exist in any one academic department on campus, but instead draws upon the resources of numerous departments across the conservatory as well as the college.</p> <p>Students pursuing the minor must complete 20 credit hours, including a minimum of eight credits in the category of “performance practices” and eight credits in “critical and creative practices.” Among the many available courses in performance practices are Internalizing Rhythms I and II (course catalog title APST 140 and APST 141), Sacred Music Skills (APST 221 and APST 222), 91ֱ�� Improvisation and New Music Collective (APST 807), and Silent Film Ensemble (APST 809), and Approaches and Philosophies of Free Music (APST 143), which is taught by Jessen.</p> <p>Courses in critical and creative practices may include Musical Thought: Analysis of World Music (ETHN 302), Intro to Electroacoustic Music (TECH 101), Introduction to Sound Art (TECH 102), Special Topics in Composition (COMP 350), and many other offerings in both the college and conservatory. In addition, students pursuing the minor may complete various other approved courses in the college that focus on improvisation, among them a variety of dance courses.</p> <p>Course selections must include at least two courses taken outside the student’s major area of study. Pursuit of the minor in improvisation culminates in the presentation of a performance, lecture, demonstration, portfolio, or other approved project.</p> <p>“We think a lot about improvisation as an <em>outcome</em>—someone on stage performing—but we don’t want to overlook the <em>process</em> of improvisation,” says Jessen, noting that fluency in improvisation can bolster the work of composers, electroacoustic musicians, and countless others.</p> <p>“The process of improvisation is important for building skills in any kind of music.”</p> <p>In addition to the improv minor, conservatory students are free to pursue minors in any course of study offered in the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as any of a number of <a href="/musical-pathways">interdisciplinary minors and concentrations</a> that draw upon the resources of both the college and conservatory and are available to all students at 91ֱ��.</p> <p>The minor in improvisation aligns with 91ֱ��’s commitment to optimally prepare students for any number of potential 21st-century career paths—a mission described in <a href="/about-oberlin/one-oberlin">One 91ֱ��</a>, a vision for the institution published in 2019 that focuses on enhanced learning outcomes for all students.</p> <p>"We consistently hear from our alumni about the importance of being comfortable improvising in a variety of contexts: on stage, in the studio, in the classroom, and elsewhere," says Peter Swendsen '99, the conservatory's former senior associate dean for academic affairs and professor in the <a href="/node/51641">TIMARA Department</a>.</p> <p>"In fact, it’s one of the skills most often mentioned as being a key component of their lives as professional musicians. We're excited that the new minor will better prepare our current and future students for this reality of the music world by encouraging them to develop a personal voice and practice that includes improvisation."</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Debuting in fall 2022, new course of study available to all conservatory students.</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="2022-01-25T12:00:00Z">Tue, 01/25/2022 - 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=2865">Performance & Improvisation (PI)</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=464502">Improvisation</a></div> <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 class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=34691">Jazz 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="/dana-jessen" hreflang="und">Dana Jessen</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/jazz-studies" hreflang="und">Jazz Studies</a></div> <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/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">A conservatory improv ensemble performs in 91ֱ��'s Birenbaum Space.</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>Carson Fratus Awarded Fulbright Foreign Scholarship to Study Music of South India</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 06 May 2019 21:11:23 +0000</p> <span>Carson Fratus Awarded Fulbright Foreign Scholarship to Study Music of South India</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-05-06T17:11:23-04:00" title="Monday, May 6, 2019 - 17:11">Mon, 05/06/2019 - 17:11</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In March 2019, 91ֱ�� alum—and current student—Carson Fratus BM ’17 AD ’19 was awarded a J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship to study in India.</p> <p>With a bachelor’s degree in percussion performance already under his belt, Fratus will wrap up his artist diploma this month and embark on an exploration of the traditional music of South India throughout the coming year.</p> <p>Here’s what the Knoxville, Tennessee, resident had to say about it all when we caught up with him recently.</p> <p><strong>How did music come into your life, and what was your path to studying percussion at 91ֱ��?</strong><br> <br> I started with piano and voice from a very young age and grew up playing and singing in church. I didn’t start playing percussion until middle school and didn’t start to formally study percussion until my junior year of high school. The transition between the two was very slow, but I eventually realized that drums were my calling.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption><br> In January 2019, Fratus (back left) performed with the 91ֱ�� Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Photo credit: Fadi Kheir</figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>What have been some of your best experiences in 91ֱ��?</strong><br> <br> The performance opportunities I’ve had through conservatory ensembles are invaluable, but a lot of my favorite musical experiences have come from collaborations outside of my coursework too. My studies with percussionist Jamey Haddad and trombonist/composer Jay Ashby through 91ֱ��’s Performance and Improvisation program have impacted me greatly. As I began to study traditional music from around the world—as well as traditional American music—more and more performance opportunities began to appear as I branched out into new styles and avenues of playing.</p> <p><strong>How do you plan to spend your time in India?</strong></p> <p>I will be studying South Indian classical music, called Carnatic music. I will be working with revered gurus, learning to play an ancient and beautiful drum called a <em>mridangam</em>. I will also be teaching kids in public schools how to read Western notation, as well as giving lessons on a drum set and frame drum.</p> <p><strong>You’ve posted some videos of yourself performing Carnatic music, specifically <em>solkattu</em>, where you chant rhythms on syllables while tapping out the meter with your hands. How did you discover this art form?</strong><br> <br> I first began to study <em>konnakol</em> with Jamey Haddad through his internalizing rhythm class, which can be taken by any student at 91ֱ��. I recommend it for all types of musicians. Jamey Haddad received a Fulbright to India many years ago for the same study, so I am essentially following in his footsteps.</p> <p><strong>You participated in Jamey Haddad’s winter-term trip to India a few years ago. What were some of the musical highlights of that experience?</strong><br> <br> Yes, that trip to India in 2017 was life changing for me. We spent two weeks with master musicians who did their best to give us a taste of a tradition that is as deep as it is ancient. This lit the fire for me, and I jumped into everything that was presented to us, really trying to make the most out of the experience. I’d say one of the best parts of the trip was performing for an audience of almost a thousand kids on a big stage. We were playing arrangements of jazz standards as well as just grooving and playing to the crowd. The audience was so responsive and energetic, I had never felt that kind of vibe on a stage before. <em>Unreal</em>.</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="2019-05-06T12:00:00Z">Mon, 05/06/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Julie Gulenko ’15</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A winter-term trip gave Carson Fratus a glimpse of India. Now a Fulbright fellowship gives him a year.</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=2865">Performance & Improvisation (PI)</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=7491">Percussion</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> <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> <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">Julie Gulenko '15</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>In the Practice Room with Percussionist and Fulbrighter Carson Fratus</h1> <p>eburnett — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 19:56:26 +0000</p> <span>In the Practice Room with Percussionist and Fulbrighter Carson Fratus</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-12-16T14:56:26-05:00" title="Wednesday, December 16, 2020 - 14:56">Wed, 12/16/2020 - 14:56</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In March 2019, the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board awarded Carson Fratus BM ’17, AD ’19 a scholarship to India. When he wraps up his artist diploma at 91ֱ�� this semester, the musician from Knoxville, Tennessee, will embark on a year of exploring the traditional music of South India.</p> <p><strong>How did music come into your life? What was your path to studying percussion at 91ֱ��?</strong></p> <p>I started with piano and voice from a very young age and grew up playing and singing in church. I didn’t start playing percussion until middle school and didn’t start to formally study percussion until my junior year of high school. The transition between the two was very slow, but I eventually realized that drums were my calling.</p> <p><strong>What have been some of your best experiences in 91ֱ��?</strong></p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Carson Fratus (back left) performed with the 91ֱ�� Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in January 2019. (photo by Fadi Kheir)</figcaption> </figure> <p>The performance opportunities I’ve had through the conservatory ensembles are invaluable, but a lot of my favorite musical experiences have come from collaborations outside of my coursework. My studies with percussionist <a href="/node/7081">Jamey Haddad</a> and trombonist/composer <a href="/node/6671">Jay Ashby</a> through 91ֱ��’s Performance and Improvisation program have impacted me greatly. As I began to study traditional music from around the world—as well as traditional American music—more and more performance opportunities began to appear as I branched out into new styles and avenues of playing.</p> <p><strong>How do you plan to spend your time in India? What will your project look like?</strong></p> <p>I will be studying South Indian classical music, called Carnatic music. I will be working with revered gurus, learning to play an ancient and beautiful drum called a <em>mridangam</em>. I will also be teaching kids in public schools how to read Western notation, as well as giving lessons on drum set and frame drum.</p> <p><strong>You’ve posted some videos of yourself performing Carnatic music, specifically <em>solkattu</em>, where you chant rhythms on syllables while tapping out the meter with your hands. How did you discover this art form?</strong></p> <p>I first began to study <em>konnakol</em> with Jamey Haddad through his internalizing rhythms class, which can be taken by any student at 91ֱ��. I recommend it for all types of musicians. Jamey Haddad received a Fulbright to India many years ago for the same study, so I am essentially following in his footsteps.</p> <p><strong>You participated in Jamey Haddad’s winter term trip to India a few years ago. What were some of the musical highlights of that experience?</strong></p> <p>Yes, that trip to India in 2017 was life changing for me. We spent two weeks with master musicians who did their best to give us a taste of a tradition that is as deep as it is ancient. This lit the fire for me, and I jumped into everything that was presented to us, really trying to make the most out of the experience. I’d say one of the best parts of the trip was performing for an audience of almost a thousand kids on a big stage. We were playing arrangements of jazz standards as well as just grooving and playing to the crowd. The audience was so responsive and energetic, I had never felt that kind of vibe on a stage before. <em>Unreal</em>.</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="2019-04-08T12:00:00Z">Mon, 04/08/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Conservatory Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>After earning two 91ֱ�� degrees, he will pursue his love of South Indian music.</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=2974">Conservatory Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2865">Performance & Improvisation (PI)</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=7491">Percussion</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> <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>Jamey Haddad’s World Ensemble Under One Sun Debuts on 91ֱ�� Music</h1> <p>eburnett — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 15:23:51 +0000</p> <span>Jamey Haddad’s World Ensemble Under One Sun Debuts on 91ֱ�� Music</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2017-09-12T11:23:51-04:00" title="Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - 11:23">Tue, 09/12/2017 - 11:23</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="/jamey-haddad">Jamey Haddad</a> met saxophone player Billy Drewes when both were music students in Boston. Nearly 45 years later, the longtime friends have made their first recording together: a collection of nine tunes written by Drewes and performed by Under One Sun, eight musicians who represent five countries and whose ages span five decades.</p> <p>“As my musical journey led me from one continent to another, and as I experienced a planet crying out for understanding, this team of players cosmically came forward,” says Haddad, a longtime professor of advanced improvisation and percussion at 91ֱ�� Conservatory. “The sheer joy of every member experiencing their bandmates’ artistry truly exemplifies the human capacity to celebrate what makes us unique.”</p> <p>Joining Haddad and Drewes are Michael Ward-Bergeman (hyper accordion), Luisito Quintero (congas, timbales, and percussion), Roberto Occhipinti (acoustic bass), Leo Blanco (piano), Ali Paris (qanun and voice), and Salar Nader (tabla). </p> <p>Also included are performances by fellow 91ֱ�� faculty trombonists <a href="/jay-ashby">Jay Ashby</a> and Lee Allen, 91ֱ�� Conservatory brass students, and Hadra des Femmes de Taroudant, an all-female vocal ensemble from Morocco. The accompanying booklet includes reflections from each musician and notes by legendary songwriter Paul Simon, with whom Haddad has performed for two decades. </p> <p>Distributed by Naxos of America, <em>Under One Sun</em> is available through select retailers and digital music channels worldwide. </p> <p>91ֱ�� Music is the official label of the 91ֱ�� Conservatory of Music, with titles spanning classical, jazz, world music, and other sounds. <em>Under One Sun</em> is the fourth release on 91ֱ�� Music in 2017. It follows <a href="/news/james-howsmon-and-marilyn-mcdonald-collaborate-mozart-among-friends"><em>Mozart Among Friends</em></a>, a collection of Mozart sonatas featuring pianist James Howsmon and violinist Marilyn McDonald; <a href="/news/bassist-peter-dominguez-releases-groove-dreams-oberlin-music"><em>Groove Dreams</em></a>, which consists of tunes for solo bass performed by Peter Dominguez; and <a href="/news/cello-professor-darrett-adkins-releases-myth-tradition"><em>Myth & Tradition</em></a>, three contemporary cello concertos performed by Darrett Adkins '91. Learn more at <a href="https://naxosdirect.com/labels/oberlin-music-4456">oberlin.edu/oberlinmusic</a>.</p> <p> </p> <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="2017-09-12T12:00:00Z">Tue, 09/12/2017 - 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>Improv professor is joined by friends and fellow musicians who hail from around the globe.</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=2375">91ֱ�� Music Label</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2865">Performance & Improvisation (PI)</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> <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> <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>A Conservatory Program Emerges in the Space Between Classical and Jazz</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:01:20 +0000</p> <span>A Conservatory Program Emerges in the Space Between Classical and Jazz</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:01:20-05:00" 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>91ֱ��’s newest ensemble program sits in the space between the conservatory’s classical and jazz worlds and is sending students down intriguing paths toward more innovative artistic expression.</p> <p>Now in its fourth year, Performance & Improvisation—PI, for short—invites students to deepen their understanding of their own playing through immersive experiences with accomplished guest musicians who represent an exhaustive range of world music styles. Each guest residency consists of one or more master classes with PI students as well as a performance on campus.</p> <p>Fall semester guests visiting 91ֱ�� in conjunction with the PI program include flamenco pianist <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/pi_series_guest_recital_alex_conde_jazz_and_flamenco_piano#.V-1pRo41h8U">Alex Conde</a> (September 28-29), bassist <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/pi_series_guest_recital_petros_klampanis_double_bass#.V-1p8o41h8U">Petros Klampanis</a> (October 25-27), and jazz trumpeter <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/pi_ensemble_student_concert_3135#.V-1qL441h8U">Dominick Farinacci</a> (November 8-10). Spring will feature residencies by jazz clarinet and saxophone player <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/pi_series_guest_recital_anat_cohen_jazz_clarinet-saxophone#.V-1qdo41h8U">Anat Cohen</a> (February 16-17) and jazz pianist <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/pi_series_guest_recital_leo_genovese_jazz_piano#.V-1qVo41h8U">Leo Genovese</a> (March 14-16).</p> <p>The school year began with an August 31 performance by Under One Sun, a world music collective that features musicians hailing from five countries and five generations, many of whom led master classes the following day. The ensemble was convened by <a href="https://new.oberlin.edu/conservatory/faculty/faculty-detail.dot?id=233443">Jamey Haddad</a>, 91ֱ��’s professor of advanced improvisation and percussion, and his longtime performing partner, saxophonist Billy Drewes.</p> <p>“Students are truly hungry for experiences that allow them to explore new aspects of music that wouldn’t ordinarily be taught within the repertoire for their instrument,” says Haddad, who founded the Performance & Improvisation program. “The goal of PI is to expand a culture on campus where committed students who want to explore composition and improvisation in an ensemble situation can do so in addition to the focus of their jazz and classical majors.”</p> <p>The core faculty members behind PI are Haddad, Professor of Jazz Arranging <a href="/node/6671">Jay Ashby</a>, and Professor of Jazz Studies and Double Bass Peter Dominguez.</p> <p>The PI program encompasses coursework, applied lessons, ensembles, and master classes. To be considered for ensemble placement in the PI program, students must first take prerequisite courses: internalizing rhythms I and II (APST 140 and APST 141) and beginning improvisation (for non-jazz musicians) (APST 142). Students are then eligible to audition for one of three small ensembles that receive coachings, access to master classes, and performances both on- and off-campus.</p> <p>Through their experiences in PI, classical students emerge with confident improvisational skills, and jazz students boast a greater musical vocabulary. Musicians from both backgrounds take away an increased flexibility and adaptability from the experience, along with an emboldened approach to their study and creation of music.</p> <p>Fourth-year jazz piano and economics major Michael Orenstein has participated in PI since his sophomore year. This fall, he became part of an ensemble that includes a classically trained percussionist; a cellist who also sings and majors in composition; jazz sax, bass, piano, and drum majors; and a violinist who studies both classical and jazz forms.</p> <p>“The PI program is making a big difference in the way I think about—and hopefully <i>play</i>—music,” says Orenstein, who hails from Berkeley, Calif. “We have artists coming in from all over the world, so we are exposed to different styles of music we probably would not play otherwise. Since I have been in the program, we have had Cuban, Brazilian, Palestinian, Mexican, Israeli, and Venezuelan guest artists. Studying their composition and playing styles has made me a more versatile player and listener.”</p> <p>Carrie Frey ’14, a violist in New York City, was among the first students to take part in PI at 91ֱ��.</p> <p>“The PI program had a very deep influence on my playing and on many of the choices I've made since then,” says Frey, who counts among her numerous ensemble projects a toy piano/toy viola duo that exalts improvisation and performance of original pieces.</p> <p>“PI gave me the opportunity to view myself as a composer of sorts, the confidence to fit into any ensemble musically and rhythmically, a foundation for later improvisational study, and many important connections that have stayed with me,” says Frey.</p> <p>Some of those 91ֱ�� connections continue to bear fruit: As a student, Frey performed music by guest artist Petros Klampanis and even shared the stage with the acclaimed bassist. “When I moved to New York City, I reconnected with Petros and was able to jump in with his ensemble, largely because I already knew some of the music and had the solid rhythm I learned from Jamey, Jay, and my fellow PI-mates.”</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="2016-09-30T12:00:00Z">Fri, 09/30/2016 - 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 class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2865">Performance & Improvisation (PI)</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=34691">Jazz 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="/jay-ashby" hreflang="und">Jay Ashby</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> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Jazz and classical students in 91ֱ��’s Performance & Improvisation (PI) program play at the Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse on campus in May 2016. Students audition for roles in PI ensembles after completing prerequisite courses.</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> </main></body></html>