The Oberlin Conservatory's first courses in jazz studies were taught by Wendell Logan, the late founder and director of the Jazz Studies Department, in 1973. In 1989, the Oberlin Conservatory established the Jazz Studies Department and majors, which prepare students for professional careers and advanced study in jazz.
Oberlin's jazz faculty, such as professors Billy Hart and Robin Eubanks, helped to build the the jazz tradition and are on the vanguard of contemporary jazz. Additionally, the conservatory frequently hosts equally impressive and influential visiting artists — since 2011, officially sponsored visitors have included Herbie Hancock, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Nicholas Payton, Dave Liebman, Rufus Reid, Esperanza Spalding, John Hollenbeck, Cyro Baptista, Leo Blanco, Daphnes Prieto, the Claudia Quintet, and the Bad Plus.
To read more about the Jazz Studies Department and jazz at the Oberlin Conservatory, please see our press resources below. All of these documents can be downloaded as ".pdf" files — after opening the link, simply right-click (or control-click, for Macintosh users) and select "save as."
- Jazz at Oberlin: A Brief History
- The Oberlin Conservatory: An Overview
- Critical Acclaim for the Oberlin Conservatory
- Jazz Students Work Closely with Iconic Visiting Artists
- Jazz Students Tap Local Gigs
- Jazz Students Book Jazz Icons
