THE WOLFGANG GANG
J.P. Jennings ’17 formed the Mozart Players because nobody else had thought to. BY JOSIE DAVIS ’14 | PHOTO BY TANYA ROSEN-JONES ’97 a rarely spoken truth about conservatory life got j.p. jennings to thinking. “Mozart is widely regarded as one of the most important composers in all of history, and yet music schools don’t play much of his music.” A vocal studies major entering his third year at Oberlin, Jennings found himself in search of an ensemble to hone his conducting skills back in May 2014. And when he found himself in need of a musical direction, he turned to one of his favorite composers. With that, the Oberlin Mozart Players were born. Te adventurous, student-run chamber orchestra was established by Jennings in an efort to create an opportunity for like-minded musicians to study works of the underperformed master. In only its frst year, its roster swelled to 32 members. “I felt that it was the best way to not only get people to join—everyone wants to play more Mozart—but to grow appreciation for the repertoire within the community, since we’re playing works now rarely heard in Oberlin,” says Jennings. Raised in Coto de Caza, California, Jennings frst held a baton during a yearlong introductory conducting course, followed by additional work with Associate Professor of Conducting Raphael Jiménez and Director of Choral Ensembles Jason Harris. Inspiration for the Mozart Players originated at the Oberlin Summer Choral Conducting Workshop, afer a master class with maestro John Nelson. “Nelson gave me a phenomenal piece of advice: If you really want to be a conductor, try to get in front of an ensemble as much as
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possible and conduct the repertoire now that you hope to do again later in your career.” Students from the college and conservatory are invited to register for the Mozart Players through the Experimental College, or ExCo, system—a student-run organization that sponsors courses taught by members of the Oberlin community. While course credit is available, many players aren’t in it for the curricular payof. “It was an incredible opportunity to perform with the Oberlin Mozart Players,” says Teodosia Roussos, an artist diploma candidate who was the featured soloist in the ensemble’s March performance of Mozart’s Oboe Concerto. In the past year, the group has performed a movement from Mozart’s third violin concerto and arias from Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, and Die Zauberföte, in addition to Mozart’s orchestral masterworks. “Te energy of the group was incredible,” Roussos says. “As an instrumentalist, concerti are studied much more ofen than performed as a solo with orchestra, so it was a real rush for me to play with an orchestra.” Jennings chooses repertoire that refects the musicians’ desire to be challenged musically. He compiles sheet music online or from the conservatory’s ensemble library and meticulously notates specifc dynamic, bowing, articulation, and tempo markings. In the remaining years he has at Oberlin, he plans to dive deeper into Mozart’s catalog. “I would very much like to keep this ensemble alive as long as I can,” he says. “And if someone decides to take the helm when I graduate, I would love to see it continue.”