RECENT RELEASES
Oberlin Music Label Celebrates New Music oberlin conservatory enjoys a longstanding reputation as a hub for the creation and performance of new music, and the Contemporary Music Ensemble—the student group directed by professor Timothy Weiss—is the primary conduit through which this surge of artistry flows. So maybe it’s no surprise that 2021 might be remembered as the Year of the Composer for Oberlin Music, the recording label that celebrates the conservatory’s students and faculty, as well as esteemed guest collaborators. All four of the label’s 2021 releases feature world premieres by acclaimed 21st-century composers, and three of them showcase the creations of Oberlin’s own composition department. Also not surprisingly: The student musicians of the Contemporary Music Ensemble—or CME—play a central role in all four projects. The concept that led to The Oberlin Concertos (released in September) was initially hatched in a conversation between Oberlin composition professor Jesse Jones and his former teacher, acclaimed pianist Xak Bjerken. It was Jones who suggested writing a chamber concerto to be premiered by his friend and mentor, and it was Bjerken—a former longtime member of the Los Angeles Piano Quartet and soloist with the L.A. Philharmonic—who was immediately hooked. Their plan gave rise to another commission— for the chair of Oberlin’s Composition Department, Grammy Award-winner Stephen Hartke—and then another, for fellow composition faculty member Elizabeth Ogonek. The resulting works were recorded in three sessions over two years, with Bjerken joining forces with CME and conductor Weiss for the landmark papers showing how a remote attacker could use a range of digital pathways to override mechanical functions tied to the engine, lights, and brakes. “The first paper asked what capabilities an attacker would have if they were able to compromise one of the components in the car,” Checkoway says. “We connected to OBERLIN ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2021 FALL
world-premiere performances of each piece on campus, in addition to their recorded debuts. The Oberlin Concertos followed the April arrival of Hartke | Ogonek | Jones, another showcase of Oberlin’s composition faculty. (Ogonek parted ways with Oberlin this year to join the faculty of Cornell University, where Bjerken also teaches.) It was released in conjunction with Norman | Trigos | Broening, which features works by renowned composers Andrew Norman, Juan Trigos, and Benjamin Broening. Both recordings highlight performances by CME, under the direction of Weiss.
the cars’ internal networks to examine what we could do once they were hacked. The second paper explored how someone could hack the car from afar.” Their seminal research led automakers to adopt new security practices as standard procedure. “The work had a lot of impact,” Checkoway says. “It prompted
Due to land in early December is Jesse Jones: In Profile, a collection of five varied works that offer a further glimpse into the playful and numinous sides of the composer’s musical language and provide a six-year snapshot from his prolific two-decade career. Once again, Jones is united with CME and Weiss, as well as the Oberlin Orchestra and conductor Raphael Jiménez. Faculty collaborators also abound, among them Richard Hawkins (clarinet), Alexa Still (flute), Robert Walters (English horn), and Drew Pattison (bassoon). Oberlin Music recordings are available via digital music channels everywhere.
manufacturers to start considering car safety concerns.” GM appointed a vice president of product security to lead a new division. The Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE), the standards body for the automotive industry, quickly issued the first automotive cybersecurity standards. Other car companies followed, as did the
federal government. In 2012, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency launched a new project geared toward creating hacking-resistant, cyber-physical systems. Checkoway’s current research focuses on the security of cyberphysical systems, particularly aviation. 9