Oberlin Headlines

New Sculpture Combines Art and Science

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST

Bound Tetrahedron, an 8-foot, twisting bronze sculpture was installed Tuesday, November 3, outside the William and Annabel Perlik Commons at the Science Center. Designed by California artist Roger Berry, the sculpture is an artistic representation of the tetrahedron, an essential figure in many scientific disciplines.

President Krislov Appointed to the National Council on the Humanities

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:28:00 EST

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced the appointment of Oberlin College President Marvin Krislov to the National Council on the Humanities. Mr. Krislov was sworn in and began his official duties yesterday.

Jazz Trumpet Professor Marcus Belgrave Awarded Kresge Eminent Artist Prize

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:14:00 EST

Visiting Professor of Jazz Trumpet Marcus Belgrave, called the “patriarch of Detroit jazz,” was honored in October with the Kresge Foundation’s 2009 Kresge Eminent Artist prize. The $50,000 award acknowledges Belgrave’s lifelong dual careers as performer and teacher, and his profound influence on the musical life of his adopted hometown.

Oberlin Students Give the Gift of Live Music

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:43:00 EST

Concerto Competition winners and Oberlin Opera Theatre singers from the conservatory will perform live today from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at WCLV’s Thanks-for-Giving Blood Drive, held at the Spitzer Conference Center on the campus of Lorain County Community College. At approximately 12:30 p.m., an interview and a live performance by Oberlin Opera Theatre of the sextet “Alla bella Despinetta” will be broadcast throughout the region on 104.9 FM, and online at www.wclv.com.

Chemistry Professor Manish Mehta Wins Teacher-Scholar Award

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:24:00 EST

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation has awarded Associate Professor of Chemistry Manish Mehta the Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award for his outstanding leadership in conducting original scholarly research with undergraduates.

Oberlin Hosts Students of Color Leadership Conference

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:02:00 EST

More than 250 students of color from colleges and universities in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania will convene at Oberlin College for the annual Great Lakes Colleges Association Students of Color Leadership Conference on November 13-14. One of the featured events will be a free, public talk by acclaimed actress, comedian, and writer Nancy Giles ’81.

First Power Shift Ohio Summit to Be Held at Oberlin College

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:43:00 EST

Oberlin College will host youth from all over the state in the first Power Shift Ohio summit November 6 to 8. The event is a regional spin-off of last year’s Power Shift 2009, in which 12,000 young people gathered in Washington, D.C. to lobby for environmentally friendly jobs and clean energy in the largest youth activist event on climate change in history.

Emeritus Faculty Receive Mellon Fellowships

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:21:00 EST

Two former Oberlin faculty members, Emeritus Professor of English David Young and Emeritus Professor of Religion Grover Zinn, have been awarded fellowships from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to continue post-retirement research on the work of German poet Paul Celan and on the writings of twelfth-century mystic Hugh of Saint Victor, respectively.

Women’s Cross Country Team Claims 2009 NCAC Championship

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:47:00 EST

The Oberlin College women’s cross country team placed four runners among the top ten finishers and totaled 33 points to capture its second North Coast Athletic Conference title in the past four seasons.

Oberlin Opera Theater Presents Mozart’s Comedy of Love And Deception, Così Fan Tutte, November 18-22, 2009

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:53:00 EDT

Oberlin Opera Theater’s Così fan tutte will let Mozart’s glorious music and Da Ponte’s clever libretto sing, under the baton of Bridget-Michaele Reischl and the direction of Jonathon Field. Two new initiatives—a behind-the-scenes blog and thematic program notes—will offer audiences ways to explore different aspects of the production. The production opens on Wednesday, November 18, at 8 p.m. in Oberlin College’s Hall Auditorium, with additional performances on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Building a Green Economy in Oberlin

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EDT

In a recent Cleveland Plain Dealer article, Oberlin College Professor David Orr discusses his vision for a Green Arts District in Oberlin that would encompass a 13-acre city block. Currently in the early planning stages, the project would serve as an economic catalyst for a new green economy throughout Northeast Ohio. You can also read a Q&A with Orr and Plain Dealer environment reporter Michael Scott.

2010 Cooper Competition Judges Announced

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:04:00 EDT

The Thomas and Evon Cooper Competition has announced three of the distinguished guests who will serve as faculty and judges for the 2010 competition in piano. Pianists Christopher Elton, Stanislav Ioudentich, and Matti Raekallio will travel to Oberlin and Cleveland in July to judge the competition and teach at the concurrent Oberlin International Piano Festival. All three previously judged the Oberlin International Piano Competition, from which the Cooper Competition evolved.

October 29 Concert by Jennifer Koh ’97 Pairs Bach Partitas and Multimedia Premiere

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EDT

Violinist Jennifer Koh’s Artist Recital Series concert on Thursday, October 29, is part of her ongoing project focusing on solo violin works. She uses Bach’s partitas as a touchstone for exploring more contemporary works, blending old and new. In concert at Oberlin, she will perform two Bach partitas and a newer work by Esa-Pekka Salonen that features video by graphic artist Tal Rosner. Koh discussed the initiative in a recent video interview for the Oberlin web site. The interview video also includes clips of the Bach and Salonen works, as well as of Rosner’s video art.

Five Student Winners of 2009 Concerto Competition to Perform with Oberlin Orchestras This Season

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:31:00 EDT

Five conservatory students have been named winners of Oberlin’s 2009 Concerto Competition, held on Saturday, October 10, in Finney Chapel. Violist Meredith Crawford, flutist Jonathan Figueroa, violinist Chingis Khannanov, baritone Joseph Lattanzi, and pianist Siyuan Li will reprise their prize-winning performances onstage with the Oberlin orchestras in free, public concerts this fall and spring. Their repertoire includes music by Nielsen, Paganini, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, and Miklós Rózsa.

Oberlin Receives Top Grade on Sustainability Report Card

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:55:00 EDT

Oberlin College has been awarded the highest grade given to any college or university, an A-, on the Sustainable Endowments Institute’s College Sustainability Report Card 2010. For the second consecutive year Oberlin has earned top honors on the report card.

Oberlin Alumni to Return to Campus for Environmental Reunion

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:47:00 EDT

Students and community members are invited to join Oberlin alumni for A Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste: Creating a Durable Future, a weekend-long symposium on local, national, and international environmental issues. College and city leaders will highlight Oberlin's leading role in the global push for carbon-neutrality.

The Sights, Sounds, and Stories of Opera in America

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:59:00 EDT

On Thursday, October 15, Oberlin students will have an opportunity to learn more about the history of opera in America in a lecture by John Zaretti. A collaboration of the conservatory’s voice department and the college’s French and Italian departments, the event is being produced with the Consulate of Italy in Detroit. Zaretti's lecture will trace opera’s American history through compelling anecdotes. Live performances of opera excerpts by Oberlin students will further enliven the presentation. The event begins at 8:30 p.m. in Kulas Recital Hall and is free and open to the public.

John Rot ’12 to Cook Up New Music in 2009 Iron Composer Competition

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:52:00 EDT

John Rot, a conservatory sophomore, has been selected as one of five finalists to compete in the Iron Composer competition, held on Friday, October 2 at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. In only five hours, each finalist will compose a new work inspired by a "secret ingredient." The resulting pieces will be rehearsed and performed in a free concert, held at Baldwin-Wallace that evening and broadcast live throughout the region by WCLV 104.9 FM, Cleveland’s classical station. At the end of the performance, one contestant will win the title of Iron Composer 2009.

The Oberlin Orchestras’ Fall Season Features a Premiere, Faculty Soloists, and Many Symphonic Classics

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:31:00 EDT

The conservatory will present five free orchestral concerts this fall, featuring several of its distinguished faculty soloists in concert with the conservatory’s two student orchestras. Music director Bridget-Michaele Reischl will conduct the orchestras in repertoire ranging from Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 to a new commission by Chinese-American composer Bright Sheng, performed by acclaimed harpist Yolanda Kondonassis on October 2.

Oberlin College Receives More Than $1 Million in Grants from NSF

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:49:00 EDT

The National Science Foundation has awarded Oberlin College two grants totaling more than one million dollars for innovative interdisciplinary projects in the sciences. One grant will support the integration of computational modeling into science curricula, and the other will be used to purchase a powerful new research instrument.

The Hands Behind the Hymns at Senator Kennedy’s Funeral

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:20:00 EDT

On a rainy Saturday, hundreds of mourners raised their voices in a touching rendition of “America, the Beautiful” as the casket of Senator Edward Kennedy was carried out of the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston. Among the many gathered to honor the senator’s incredible life and work was Professor of Organ James David Christie, who provided accompaniment during that hymn and throughout the ceremony on the basilica’s sonorous, 3,200-pipe organ.

Oberlin Names Teaching Excellence Award Recipients

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:46:00 EDT

For their commitment to excellence and innovation in teaching, six distinguished Oberlin faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory of Music have been selected to receive a 2008-09 Oberlin Teaching Excellence Award. The recipients will be honored at Oberlin’s annual awards dinner, held this year on Wednesday, October 14 in Peters Hall.

MacArthur Recipient Returns to Oberlin

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:58:00 EDT

2008 MacArthur “genius grant” winner Dr. Diane Meier ’73 will return to her alma mater to give a public lecture on Thursday, September 17. Dr. Meier, one of the nation’s leading experts on geriatric care, will present a lecture entitled, "Palliative Care: Transforming the Experience of a Serious Illness.”

Oberlin Receives Alfred P. Sloan Award in Faculty Career Flexibility

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:45:00 EDT

The American Council on Education (ACE) has selected Oberlin College for a $200,000 accelerator grant to expand career options already available to faculty as well as incorporate discussion of career flexibility into its junior mentoring program.

Exhibit Reveals Architectural Splendor of 17th- and 18th-Century Synagogues

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:24:00 EDT

A stunning new exhibition—Wooden Synagogues: Recovering History through Art and Architecture — now on view in Mudd includes work done by Oberlin students during two winter terms.

Cleveland-based GroundWorks DanceTheater to Present World Premiere by TIMARA Professor Peter Swendsen

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:25:00 EDT

GroundWorks DanceTheater will present the world premiere of Valence, a new work created by Professor of Computer Music and Digital Arts Peter Swendsen and GroundWorks Artistic Associate Amy Miller. The premiere on Friday, September 11, at 8 p.m., will be followed by five additional performances at the Akron Ice House this weekend and next. GroundWorks is Northeast Ohio’s premier dance company, recently voted “One of 25 to Watch” by Dance magazine.

Oberlin College Celebrates Latino/a Heritage Month with Array of Events

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:16:00 EDT

Oberlin College will honor Latino/a Heritage Month with a series of speakers, social events, screenings, and performances that showcase Oberlin’s Latino/a communities. Events take place from September 12 to October 10. Featured guests include among others, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Díaz and renowned tenor and Oberlin alumnus Marco Antonio Labastida ’95.

Sphinx Chamber Orchestra to Open 131st Artist Recital Series Season

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:10:00 EDT

2009-2010 Convocation Series Opens in September with Three Speakers

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:09:00 EDT

Amory Lovins (“one of the Western world’s most influential energy thinkers” Newsweek), actor Ed Helms '96 (Hangover and The Office), and award-winning author Junot Dìaz (The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao) will open Oberlin College’s 2009-2010 Convocation Series this fall. Lovins will speak on September 3, Helms on September 12, and Dìaz on September 23.

Latest Rankings Place Oberlin Among Nation’s Best

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT

In U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges 2010," Oberlin placed 22nd among the nation's top liberal arts colleges and received praise for its faculty's commitment to outstanding undergraduate teaching. Additionally, Sierra magazine's "Cool Schools" ranked Oberlin 10th in the nation for its efforts to operate sustainably and curb global warming.

Sphinx Chamber Orchestra to Open 131st Artist Recital Series Season on September 20

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:21:00 EDT

Oberlin College will launch the 131st season of its Artist Recital Series, America’s longest-running classical concert series, with a performance by the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra and Harlem String Quartet on September 20, 2009, at 3 p.m. Their concert of music by Mozart and Piazzolla, Bach and Wynton Marsalis will launch a season of exciting, diverse programming in Finney Chapel, recently named one of the region’s best music venues by Cleveland magazine.

$1.7 Million Gift From Voice Teacher Helen Hodam To Fund New Scholarship at the Conservatory

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:40:00 EDT

Throughout her life, Helen Hodam gave generously of her time and talents, helping dozens of students to build careers in classical singing. Now, a $1.7 million gift from the legendary voice teacher’s estate has established the Helen Hodam Merit Scholarship in Voice at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

$1.7 Million Gift From Voice Teacher Helen Hodam To Fund New Scholarship at the Conservatory

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:53:00 EDT

Throughout her long life, Helen Hodam gave generously of her time and talents, helping dozens of students to build careers in classical singing. Now, a $1.7 million gift from the legendary voice teacher’s estate has established and will endow the Helen Hodam Merit Scholarship in Voice at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. A professor of singing at Oberlin for more than two decades, “Miss Hodam,” as she was universally addressed, was one of the most distinguished voice teachers in the United States.

New International Competition Announced by the Conservatory and the Cleveland Orchestra

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:35:00 EDT

Beginning in summer 2010, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music will join with the Cleveland Orchestra to offer an important new international competition for young musicians that will feature more than $20,000 in prize money and a performance with the orchestra.

Photos from an Exhibition: The Frank Kuchirchuk Collection of Jazz Photography On View

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:59:00 EDT

Retired photographer Frank Kuchirchuk was the guest of honor at the May 2009 exhibition opening of the collection that bears his name. Of the nearly 200 jazz images that he donated to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, 23 are currently on view in the conservatory’s student lounge. Media coverage of his generous gift to Oberlin has included articles in JazzTimes.com, Jazziz.com, allaboutjazz.com, the Plain Dealer, the Morning Journal, the Chronicle-Telegram, CoolCleveland.com, and broadcast coverage on ideastream’s 90.3-FM WCPN and WVIZ-TV.

President Krislov Nominated for NEH Advisory Council Post

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:17:00 EDT

The White House has announced President Barack Obama’s nomination of Oberlin College President Marvin Krislov to be a member of the National Council on the Humanities.

Area Fleet-Operations Proposal is Finalist in $300,000 NEOhio Competition

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:35:00 EDT

A proposal from New Russia Township, Oberlin City Schools, and the City of Oberlin to consolidate their fleet operations has been selected as one of nine finalists in the EfficientGovNow competition. Online voting by residents of Northeast Ohio will determine which projects receive funding.

Oberlin’s Baroque Performance Institute, June 21 – July 5, Focuses on London, Featuring Music from Purcell to Handel

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:41:00 EDT

The Baroque Performance Institute (BPI) begins its 38th season of concerts, lectures, and events this Sunday, June 21 at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. One of the finest summer workshops for early music specialists, BPI’s two-week program will focus this year on music in London between 1659 and 1759. This significant century of music making was book-ended by two of the greatest figures in English music: Henry Purcell, who was born in 1659, and George Frideric Handel, who died in 1759.

Talented OSTF Cast Presents The Glass Menagerie and The Tempest, June 26-July 18

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:07:00 EDT

Theater major Mieko Gavia, ’11, Equity actors, and young theater alums play pivotal roles in The Glass Menagerie and The Tempest June 26-July 18, when the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival launches its inaugural season in Hall Auditorium. The plays are free, but seating is limited. Tickets are required.

Baritone Edward Parks ’06 to Perform Free Concert at Oberlin on July 17

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:43:00 EDT

Baritone Edward Parks, a 2006 graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, will return to his alma mater to perform a free concert on July 17th, 2009 at 8 p.m. in Kulas Recital Hall. The concert will open Oberlin’s 2009 Vocal Academy for High School Students, a longstanding Conservatory summer program, which Parks himself attended in high school. A member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, Parks recently won the Met National Council Auditions and the Marilyn Horne Competition.

College Announces Renovation Plan for Apollo Theater to Begin July 1

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:05:00 EDT

Oberlin College Special Assistant for Community and Government Relations Sandra Hodge has announced that the first phase of renovations and improvements of the Apollo Theater will commence on July 1. The theater will be closed until September 30, when the project is scheduled for completion.

Professor of Musicology Steven Plank Wins Prestigious Early Music Award

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:15:00 EDT

Professor of Musicology Steven Plank is the recipient of the Thomas Binkley Award for 2009, according to an announcement by Maria Coldwell, Executive Director of Early Music America (EMA). Plank will receive the award at a special ceremony on June 12, when the organization, which serves the field of early music, convenes its annual meeting at the Boston Early Music Festival. Plank, who is also Director of the Department of Musicology, is receiving the distinction in honor of his outstanding achievements in performance and scholarship as director of the Collegium Musicum at Oberlin College, which he has led since 1989.

Oberlin's Creativity & Leadership Project Commits $60,000 to 2009-10 Fellowships

Fri, 29 May 2009 15:54:00 EDT

2009 graduates Michael Fry, David Midler, Noah Goldman, and Sara Krugman have won a total of $60,000 in development grants to begin carrying out their entrepreneurial ventures this summer.

Oberlin Conservatory Students, Faculty, and Alumni Perform at the Boston Early Music Festival

Fri, 22 May 2009 14:10:00 EDT

The Oberlin Conservatory of Music will again be a major presence at “the world’s leading festival of early music” (The Times, London). The 2009 Boston Early Music Festival will feature Oberlin faculty members, students, and alumni on June 11, 12, and 13, 2009. Concerts include a clavichord recital by David Breitman,Director of Oberlin's Historical Performance Division; a student production of Charpentier’s opera Les Arts Florissants; and a performance of music by Anna Bon, featuring Associate Professor of Cello Catharina Meints.

Joanna Johnson ’11 All-American in 10,000 Meters

Fri, 22 May 2009 12:50:00 EDT

Joanna Johnson earned All-America honors with a seventh-place finish (36:18.20) in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA championships. Nicky Ouellet ’09 will compete in the finals of the 1,500 meters after qualifying fifth in 4:35.19 and Madeline Schultz ’10 is tied for 17th after four events in the heptathlon.

Reverend Peter J. Gomes Presents 2009 Baccalaureate Address

Wed, 13 May 2009 10:19:00 EDT

Widely regarded as one of America’s most distinguished preachers, the Reverend Peter John Gomes will present Oberlin’s 2009 Baccalaureate address May 24 at 2 pm in Finney Chapel. Gomes is the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in The Memorial Church of Harvard University.

College Tractor to Run on Vegetable Oil

Tue, 12 May 2009 12:31:00 EDT

The next time you see an Oberlin College grounds person mowing the lawn you may pick up the whiff of fried foods emanating from the tractor instead of diesel exhaust. That is because veggie-oil powered lawn mowing has come to campus.

Fulbrights Send 10 Obies Abroad

Fri, 08 May 2009 16:15:00 EDT

For their academic merit and leadership potential, 10 Oberlin College students have received Fulbright fellowships—seven in the College of Arts and Sciences and three in the Conservatory of Music— to study and teach in other countries.

In Memoriam: Professor Emeritus of Voice Richard Miller

Wed, 06 May 2009 21:44:00 EDT

Oberlin is deeply saddened to report the death of Professor Emeritus of Voice Richard Miller. It is impossible to capture in words the significance of Richard’s contribution to the field of music as an artist, teacher, and mentor; it was utterly extraordinary.

Oberlin College Launches Summer Theater Festival

Wed, 06 May 2009 17:02:00 EDT

While the economy has forced a wide variety of artistic endeavors to make cuts in programming, Oberlin College is moving forward with the inauguration of the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival (OSTF), a professional nonprofit theater company whose productions will be admission free and family friendly.

Professor of Composition Randolph Coleman to be Honored at May 8 Concert

Wed, 06 May 2009 15:43:00 EDT

After 43 years as a member of the Oberlin faculty, Professor of Composition Randolph Coleman is retiring at the end of this academic year. On Friday, May 8, he will be the guest of honor at a celebration befitting a professor of composition: a performance of his music. The program, which will be presented in Hall Auditorium at 8 p.m., features the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Strickland Gardner Professor of Music Timothy Weiss, performing works that Coleman composed throughout his tenure at the Conservatory of Music, including pieces with dance and video.

Oldenburg’s First Commissioned Public Sculpture Returns to AMAM

Wed, 06 May 2009 12:48:00 EDT

Claes Oldenburg’s Giant Three-Way Plug (1970) was the artist’s first commissioned public sculpture and paved the way for the large-scale public monuments for which he is renowned today. Removed last year for conservation, the Plug will return to the Allen Memorial Art Museum on May 8, 2009.

Upcoming Coverage of the Frank Kuchirchuk Collection of Jazz Photography

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:35:00 EDT

Media coverage of the Frank Kuchirchuk Collection of Jazz Photography continues with an interview on WCPN ideastream (90.3 FM and www.wclv.org). Listen in on Dan Poletta’s conversation with Kuchirchuk as the retired photographer talks about the photos he gave to Oberlin and describes Cleveland’s thriving jazz scene in the 1950s. The radio station will feature the interview on “Around Noon” on Monday, May 4, between noon and 1 p.m. Ideastream's public television station, WVIZ-PBS, will feature a segment on Kuchirchuk and his photographs on "Applause" on Thursday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m., with encore presentations on Saturday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. and on Sunday, May 10, at 12:30 p.m.

Oberlin College Peer Educational Theater Group Deals with Real Life Issues

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:48:00 EDT

How to use theater as an educational tool is the mission of Typecast, an innovative student troupe developed at the College’s Center for Leadership in Health Promotion that performs a vital public service on and off campus.

Oberlin Senior Wins AICUO Visual Arts Competition

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:24:00 EDT

Amy Giovanna Rinaldi ’09 has been named the Grand Award winner in the 2008-09 Excellence in the Visual Arts Competition sponsored by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio.

Oberlin Students Perform at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday, May 19, as Part of the Conservatory Project

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:32:00 EDT

Seventeen students (and one faculty conductor) will be featured in concert at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday, May 19, at 6 p.m., as part of the Conservatory Project. The concert program spans four centuries of classical music, from Couperin’s chamber music to a 2008 composition by Conservatory junior Ran Duan. The variety showcases the incredible breadth of musical expertise and talent in Oberlin’s student body.

Devin Goure ’10 Wins Beinecke Scholarship

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:09:00 EDT

Devin Goure ’10 has been selected to receive a 2009 Beinecke Scholarship, a prestigious graduate award granted to only 21 college juniors nationwide. Some 100 colleges and universities are invited each year to nominate a single student for the scholarship.

Death of Recent Graduate Saddens Oberlin Community

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:05:00 EDT

Organist Songsun Lee, who earned a master of music degree in historical performance from Oberlin in 2008 and an artist diploma in organ performance in 2006, following studies with Professor of Organ James David Christie, was killed Saturday, April 18, in a car accident in Vero Beach, Florida. The news was reported on TCPalm.com, a news web site covering Florida’s southeastern coastal region.

Composer Steve Reich’s Pulitzer for Double Sextet and its Oberlin Connections

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:09:00 EDT

When it was announced on Monday, April 20, that composer Steve Reich had won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, several Oberlin connections soon became apparent. The winning work, Double Sextet, was commissioned by eighth blackbird, the acclaimed new music ensemble formed at Oberlin more than 10 years ago. Written in three movements for an ensemble of 12 (or an ensemble of six playing against a pre-recorded tape) Double Sextet received its all-live premiere in Oberlin and at the Kitchen in New York City last fall, with members of the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble playing alongside eighth blackbird. And the version that the Pulitzer jury considered during its deliberations was the recording of the Oberlin performance in Finney Chapel, engineered by Director of Audio Services Paul Eachus and featuring seniors Leah Asher (violin); Eleanor Bors (cello); Esther Fredrickson (flute); Mark Cramer (clarinet); Thomas Fosnocht (piano); and Jennifer Torrence (percussion). American Public Media’s Performance Today is featuring that award-winning performance, and an interview with the composer, today, April 21.

Four Oberlin Alumni Receive NSF Research Fellowships

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:04:00 EDT

The National Science Foundation has awarded four Oberlin alumni its highly prestigious graduate research fellowship. Peter Collopy ’07, Tera Levin ’07, Alexander Nichols ’08, and David Smith ’07 each will receive more than $40,000 of financial support annually for up to three years of graduate study.

May 5 Finale of Oberlin Messiaen Festival Features Live Concert and Film

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:42:00 EDT

The Conservatory concludes its centenary celebration of French composer Olivier Messiaen in Finney Chapel on Tuesday, May 5, at 8 p.m. with the Ohio premiere of Apparition of the Eternal Church, acclaimed as “the finest film ever made [about] how people experience music” (Chicago Sun-Times). The screening will be preceded by a live performance of Messiaen’s Visions de l’Amen by Professor of Piano Robert Shannon and Associate Professor of Piano Haewon Song.

Kirsten Zook Receives $10,000 Grant for Water Purification Project in Uganda

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:36:00 EDT

The Davis Projects for Peace competition has awarded Oberlin College senior Kirsten Zook a $10,000 grant for a drinking-water education and purification program designed to improve the quality of life in Uganda.

Oberlin Students and Faculty Take Center Stage at National New Music Conference

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:22:00 EDT

Oberlin composers and performers, faculty members and students alike, will be in the spotlight at the upcoming conference of the Society for Electroacoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS). The most important annual gathering of electroacoustic composers in the country, the 2009 SEAMUS National Conference will be held April 16-18 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This year's program features seven works by students and faculty in the TIMARA program and two full concerts by the Contemporary Music Ensemble, led by Timothy Weiss.

Oberlin Singers Win Competitions in New York City, Columbus, and à Paris

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:49:00 EDT

Singers from Oberlin, alumni and students alike, recently took home top prizes at vocal competitions, garnering future performance opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic. Tenor Arthur Espiritu ’04 won the George London Award; baritone Jeffrey Hill MM ’09 won the Grand Concours de Chant 2009; and three Obies—Joseph Barron ’08, Jennifer Forni ’07, and Katherine Lerner ’06—took first, second and third places, respectively, in the Irma M. Cooper Opera Columbus International Vocal Competition.

Oberlin Wins National Wildlife Federation Chill Out Award

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:30:00 EDT

For the second time in three years, the National Wildlife Federation has selected Oberlin College as a winner in the annual Chill Out competition. Oberlin won for spearheading a program in which Oberlin residents could exchange incandescent light bulbs for energy efficient CFLs.

Three Student Composers Win Jazz Studies Contest

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:11:00 EDT

Three young jazz composers from the Conservatory recently won cash awards and the opportunity to have their work heard beyond Oberlin—on CD and in live performances by the Oberlin Jazz Septet. The winners of the Jazz Studies Composition Contest were announced in February; junior Alex Cohen, fifth-year double-degree student Truan Savage, and sophomore Jarrett Carter, won first, second, and third places, respectively.

Richard Haass Presents 2009 Commencement Address

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:13:00 EDT

Richard Haass '73, president of the Council on Foreign Relations and an expert on American foreign policy, will deliver this year's Commencement address on Monday, May 25.

Ohio Arts Council Recognizes Oberlin Artists

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:27:00 EDT

Six Oberlin artists are among the 59 recipients of an Individual Excellence Award from the Ohio Arts Council. The awards will provide each recipient with $5,000 to support their work in their chosen field.

Goldwater Scholarship Foundation Recognizes Four Students

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:44:00 EDT

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has named three Oberlin College students—Emily Olfson ’10, Oliver Pechenik ’10, and Jamie Wagner ’10—Goldwater Scholars, and also recognized Jaie Woodard ’11 as an honorable mention selection.

Alek Shrader ’07 Stars, on Stage and on the Silver Screen

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:08:00 EDT

Alek Shrader ’07 is making waves in the opera world. The tenor is charming opera lovers in Ohio as Count Almaviva in Opera Cleveland’s production of The Barber of Seville; he gives his final performance on Saturday, April 4. On Sunday, April 19, Alek will sing for thousands more across the country when The Audition, a new behind-the-scenes documentary produced by the Metropolitan Opera, hits the multiplex. Shrader is featured in the film.

Barbara Sawhill Participates in International Conversation on Language Learning

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:07:00 EDT

Oberlin international language specialist Barbara Sawhill will be in Beijing on March 26 and 27 to take part in an expert meeting to study the feasibility of establishing a Cyber Network for Learning Languages.

Maureen Peters Receives NSF Grant

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:19:00 EDT

Assistant Professor of Biology Maureen Peters has received a three-year, $360,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate how positively charged hydrogen ions serve as fast messengers between cells to coordinate muscle contraction.

Danenberg Honors Recital on April 1 Showcases Top Oberlin Musicians in Early Music, Jazz, and Everything in Between

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:21:00 EDT

The full range of musical excellence found at Oberlin will be on display in Warner Concert Hall on Wednesday, April 1, at 8 p.m., when the Conservatory presents the annual Danenberg Honors Recital. The free concert features student musicians from every division at the Conservatory; this year’s program includes a student composition for violin and electronics, a jazz combo, and a performance of Beethoven’s third string quartet. Admission to the concert is free and tickets are not required.

Danielle Koplinka-Loehr Receives Watson Fellowship

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:48:00 EDT

Oberlin College senior Danielle Koplinka-Loehr is one of 40 students “of unusual promise” nationwide selected to receive a prestigious Watson Fellowship, which carries with it a $28,000 stipend.

Violinist Ran Cheng ’11 Wins Silver Medal at the Stulberg International String Competition

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:53:00 EDT

To make it to the semi-finals of the Stulberg International String Competition is a great achievement in itself, but to attain a silver medal—as violinist Ran Cheng ’11 did on Saturday, March 7—is a stellar accomplishment. Cheng, who is 18 and from Beijing, China, studies with Professor of Violin Marilyn McDonald. The Stulberg is among the most distinguished of contests for young musicians; its past winners include concert violinist Joshua Bell.

Nika Knight ’09 Headed to Germany to Hone Journalism Skills

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:52:00 EDT

Nika Knight is one of 20 outstanding young journalism students in the United States chosen to take part in internXchange.

Juilliard String Quartet Offers a Significant Season Finale to 2008-09 Artist Recital Series

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:55:00 EDT

The Juilliard String Quartet’s upcoming concert in Finney Chapel on Wednesday, April 22, at 8 p.m. is an important finale in more ways than one. The final concert on Oberlin’s Artist Recital Series this season, the performance also marks the last time that Joel Smirnoff, first violinist, will play with the quartet in Ohio, his new home state. A member of the Juilliard String Quartet since 1986, Smirnoff has announced that he will leave the quartet this summer to assume his new post as President of the Cleveland Institute of Music. The concert will also be a homecoming of sorts for violinist Ronald Copes, a 1971 alumnus of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music; Copes joined the quartet as second violinist when Smirnoff became first violinist, 12 years ago.

From the South to the Pacific Northwest, Oberlin Pianists Bring Home Prizes

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:03:00 EDT

The stars aligned for pianists Robin Jenkins ’12 and Scott Cuellar ’11, students of Associate Professor of Piano Alvin Chow, on January 10, 2009. That day each of them won top prizes in competition. Jenkins won second prize at the Lennox International Young Artists Competition, sponsored by the Richardson Symphony Orchestra in Texas, and, in Denver, Colorado, Cuellar won second prize at the Jefferson Symphony Young Artists Competition. More recently, another Oberlin piano student, Alexander Malikov ’12, won second prize in the Knigge Music Competition in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Assistant Professor of Religion Cynthia Chapman Receives NEH Grant

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:40:00 EDT

Cynthia Chapman has been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to continue her research on ancient Israelite kinship structures as represented through the Bible. She received the award to continue work on her upcoming book, The House of the Mother.

Women’s Track Team Wins First NCAC Indoor Championship

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:46:00 EDT

The women’s indoor track team tied Ohio Wesleyan University with 138 points to earn a share of the 2009 North Coast Athletic Conference championship. Senior Nicky Ouellet led the Yeowomen with wins in both the mile and 800 meters.

Apollo's Fire and Alex Klein Play Virtuosic Venetian Concertos on March 10

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:59:00 EST

On Tuesday, March 10, Apollo's Fire returns to Finney Chapel to perform in the Artist Recital Series, leading a musical journey back in time to 18th-century Venice. Oberlin’s own Alex Klein, called “one of the most brilliant oboists of his generation” by the New York Times, takes the spotlight in an Albinoni oboe concerto, and members of Apollo’s Fire get their chance to shine as soloists in other gems of the Italian baroque. Both Klein and conductor Jeannette Sorrell graduated from Oberlin, and the ensemble includes numerous Conservatory alumni and faculty.

AMAM Awarded $1.25 million Grant from Mellon Foundation for Academic Programming

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:44:00 EST

Oberlin College’s Allen Memorial Art Museum has received a $1.25 million endowment challenge grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to expand and enhance the use of the museum’s collections in teaching, learning, and research.

Superstar Physicist Brian Greene to Speak on Campus March 4

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:51:00 EST

Physicist, string theorist, and author of The Elegant Universe, Brian Greene is one of the world’s leading theoretical physicists. On Wednesday, March 4, Greene will present a Convocation talk at 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel.

Rare 1950s Jazz Photographs on View at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST

Frank Kuchirchuk, a retired photographer who took live performance photographs of some of the greatest jazz artists during the height of their careers, has donated his entire collection of jazz images to the Conservatory. The Frank Kuchirchuk Collection of Jazz Photography contains some 200 images, most of which are negatives that have never been seen by the public. The collection will be cataloged and archived within Oberlin’s Phyllis Litoff Building, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2010. A special exhibition of selected images from the Kuchirchuk Collection will be on view in the Conservatory Lounge. The exhibition opens on Saturday, May 9, with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Afterwards, the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Wendell Logan, will perform in Finney Chapel at 8 p.m. in a concert dedicated to Kuchirchuk, who will be the special guest of honor for the evening.

Politics Professor Ben Schiff Receives Prestigious Chadwick Alger Prize

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:09:00 EST

Acclaimed Building the International Criminal Court by Oberlin politics professor Ben Schiff wins International Studies Association’s Chadwick Alger Prize as “the best book of 2008 on the subject of international organization and multilateralism.”

Ray English wins 2009 Hugh C. Atkinson award

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:10:00 EST

For the second time in three years, Ray English, Azariah Smith Root Director of Libraries at Oberlin College, has received a major honor from the Association of College and Research Libraries.

Conservatory Faculty to Perform at March 1 Benefit Concert for the Homeless

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:45:00 EST

In the 11 months since Family Promise of Lorain County accepted its first guests last March, the organization has helped 22 homeless families find shelter at host churches through its program, the Interfaith Hospitality Network. To help Family Promise continue its work in sheltering and finding housing for homeless families and children, a benefit concert will be held on Sunday, March 1, at 4 p.m. at the First Church in Oberlin, 106 North Main Street, at the corner of State Routes 58 and 511. Acclaimed musicians from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music’s faculty are donating their time and talent to the cause, and will present a program of works by such composers as Gabrieli, Praetorius, Brahms, Bibl, Gervaise, Widor, Dupré, Hovhaness, and Langlais. The concert is free, but donations will be accepted at the event.

Oberlin College Named to Presidential Honor Roll for Community Service

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:50:00 EST

Oberlin College’s Bonner Center for Service and Learning (CSL) was honored for the third consecutive year with a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary civic engagement and service to America’s communities.

Oberlin Opera Theater Offers New Production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, March 11-15, 2009

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:08:00 EST

Director Jonathon Field's 21st-century take on The Magic Flute at the Conservatory this spring will apply a modern sensibility to Mozart's timeless tale of the search for virtue, truth, and love. The new staging incorporates video and will feature a new English translation by Ross Halper, performed by a cast which includes several singers who have been recognized in this year's Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. The production opens on Wednesday, March 11, at 8 p.m. in Hall Auditorium, with additional performances on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Oberlin Grads Win Grammys in Chamber Music and Jazz

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:08:00 EST

Oberlin alumni Sibbi Bernhardsson ’95, Simin Ganatra ’95, and Jason Jackson ’93 are now members of an elite rank of performers: Grammy Award-winners. All three won awards for their playing at the February 8, 2009 ceremony, telecast throughout the U.S. The Grammy Awards are presented yearly by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in the music industry.

Next Stop For Elizabeth Zharoff ’09: The Metropolitan Opera Stage

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:26:00 EST

Soprano Elizabeth Zharoff ’09 has advanced to the semi-final round of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. On February 15th, she and approximately 25 other singers from across the U.S. will compete on the Met stage in the penultimate round of the country’s largest and most revered vocal competition. Two other current Oberlin students—soprano Angela Kloc ’09 and baritone Jeffrey Hill ’09 —also took home prizes in earlier rounds of competition this year.

Acclaimed Carnegie Hall Concert Featuring Robert Spano Conducting the Oberlin Orchestra Now Available on CD

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 12:20:00 EST

Slightly more than two years ago, the Oberlin Conservatory Symphony Orchestra performed under the baton of award-winning conductor and Oberlin alumnus Robert Spano ’83 to a packed Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall. That concert, which wowed the New York critics, is now available on the Oberlin Music label and will soon be found on iTunes. The Oberlin Conservatory Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall features pianist Pedja Muzijevic performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503 (with Philipp Karl Hoffmann’s cadenza); Jennifer Higdon’s blue cathedral, one of the most performed orchestral works by any living composer; and Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra. The concert was recorded live on the Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, in New York City, on January 26, 2007. WCLV, Cleveland’s classical radio station, is featuring the recording as a ”Choice CD of the Day” for the month of March. The next listening opportunities on 104.9 FM and www.wclv.com are March 12 and March 23.

Lots to Love: Stephen Hough, Nathan Gunn, and Nicholas Phan Appear on Artist Recital Series in February

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:48:00 EST

Although snow still covers the ground in Oberlin, the Artist Recital Series’ spring season begins next week, filling Finney Chapel with great performances. Pianist Stephen Hough will start things off on Tuesday, February 10. Metropolitan Opera star Nathan Gunn offers a Valentine's Day recital on Saturday, February 14. On February 25, young tenor Nicholas Phan sings Britten, Schumann, Handel, and more, as part of the Marilyn Horne Foundation's National Artist Residencies.

Oberlin College Has Unwavering Commitment to the Allen Memorial Art Museum

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:24:00 EST

A grant from the Mellon Foundation to endow academic programs, and a $9 million renovation of the museum's mechanical system, will help the AMAM maintain its position as one of the finest college art museums in the country.

Alumnae Featured on Postage Stamps

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:19:00 EST

Anna Julia Cooper and Mary Church Terrell, two of Oberlin’s earliest African American women graduates, will be inducted into the United States Postal Service’s Black Heritage and Civil Rights Pioneers stamp series.

The Geri Allen Trio, with Tap Dancer Maurice Chestnut, to Perform at Oberlin on Feb. 12

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 05:45:00 EST

It is unusual, to say the least, for a jazz combo to feature tap dancing as part of its program. But that’s what audiences will see when the internationally acclaimed jazz composer and pianist Geri Allen brings her award-winning sound—and tap dance prodigy Maurice Chestnut—to Oberlin College for a free concert by the Geri Allen Trio on Thursday, February 12, at 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Audiences might also recognize a familiar face on stage; Allen’s drummer, Kassa Overall, is a 2005 graduate of the Conservatory. Rounding out the trio is bassist Kenny Davis (not to be confused with trumpeter Kenny Davis, formerly of Oberlin’s faculty). The program will be announced from the stage. The concert is presented with the sponsorship of Oberlin’s Jazz Studies and African American Studies departments and is part of Oberlin's celebration of Black History Month.

Oberlin College Alumni and Friends Group Funds Purchase of Oberlin's Historic Apollo Theater

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:10:00 EST

Acting to preserve a cherished local institution, College Properties of Oberlin, a wholly owned subsidiary of the College, has agreed to purchase the Apollo Theater, one of the few single-screen movie houses still operating in the country.

Jazz opera Leave Me Alone! Premieres Saturday, at Oberlin and Online

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:41:00 EST

The new opera by Cleveland comics icon Harvey Pekar and saxophonist and composer Dan Plonsey premieres at 8 o'clock on January 31 in Finney Chapel and will be webcast live.

Click here to access the web stream directly.

Eric Bogosian to Speak at Oberlin February 4

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST

Bitter Honey: A Reading is the title of a talk to be presented by actor, author, and award-winning playwright Eric Bogosian ’76 Wednesday, February 4 as part of Oberlin College’s 2008-2009 Convocation Series.

Jazz Septet Reaches Out to Young Musicians

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:45:00 EST

Each January, the Oberlin Jazz Septet sets out to bring jazz to a broad audience, working with aspiring young musicians by day and playing jazz clubs by night. This year's tour, from January 20-28, includes their debut appearance at Lincoln Center.