Dean’s Greeting
transitional years have their own particular magic. We are compelled to look both forward and back, and as we celebrate the past, it propels us into the future. The David H. Stull Recital Hall stands at that nexus. Named by the conservatory faculty to honor a decade of remarkable achievement under David Stull’s leadership, this beautiful performing and teaching space already has created new and imagined opportunities for students and faculty. From Yo-Yo Ma to Marilyn Horne to the Punch Brothers, this year’s guest artists modeled the very qualities we seek to develop in our students as we prepare them for their professional lives ahead: commitment to excellence, artistic curiosity, and the ability to communicate effectively through music. The Punch Brothers residency—the inaugural Ed Helms American Roots Residency—was truly transformative, bringing together classical, jazz, and college musicians in unprecedented ways and moving beyond genre to celebrate both great artistry and the sheer joy of music, as well as to develop improvisatory skills, collaboration, and artistic flexibility. We are grateful to Ed Helms ’96 for making this residency possible, and we look forward to the return of the Punch Brothers in 2014-15! We honored the arrival of the personal papers and instruments of a true jazz legend with the first Milt Hinton Institute for Studio Bass. The Hinton Collection brings to life formative years in jazz history, and will serve as an invaluable resource for generations of students and scholars at Oberlin and throughout the world. The collection represents a phenomenal addition to the conservatory’s American-music archives and—in conjunction with the recordings of the Neumann Collection—affirms Oberlin’s place as a leading center for the study of jazz. Advancing our tradition of innovative excellence, the conservatory announced two new degree programs this year: the master of contemporary chamber music (MCCM), which launches ensembles of exceptional artistic and creative potential through a rich curriculum of intensive coaching, performance and analysis courses, and integrated entrepreneurship; and the artist diploma in advanced piano technology, a singular program designed in association with Steinway & Sons that trains technicians to become highly effective collaborators with performers. I hope you enjoy this issue of the Oberlin Conservatory Magazine, for it chronicles what has been another tremendous year for our students, faculty, and alumni. Thank you for your continued support of the work of the conservatory; it is a great privilege to share in that work, and I am deeply honored to serve as dean of this extraordinary institution. Sincerely,
Andrea Kalyn Dean of the Conservatory 2
Oberlin Conservatory Magazine
CATHY PARTLOW STRAUSS ’84 Director of Conservatory Communications ERICH BURNETT Associate Director of Conservatory Communications EMILY CRAWFORD ‘92 Art Director RYAN SPROWL Designer FERRIS ALLEN ’04 LOGAN BUCKLEY ’14 DONALD ROSENBERG MIKE TELIN ’84 Contributing Writers KELLY VIANCOURT Director of Print and Publications BEN JONES ’96 Vice President for Communications ANDREA KALYN Dean of the Conservatory
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