Music, Sports, and the Enduring Influence of Ancient Greece: Symposium I

Watch the webcast  – streamed live at concert time.

The Conservatory's season-opening festival features concerts, symposiums, sporting events, and more taking place throughout Saturday and Sunday, October 9 and 10. Programs draw upon resources from across the campus, including conservatory musicians, college and conservatory faculty, student athletes, and the Allen Memorial Art Museum.

Conservatory visitors are asked to enter the complex through either Bibbins Hall’s east entrance (off College Place, across from the Oberlin College Bookstore) or the Conservatory Lounge’s west entrance (off S. Professor St., adjacent to the Conservatory Pond). All other entrances will be closed to the public.

Presentations by college and conservatory faculty:

“Athlete-Heroes and Civic Politics in Ancient Greece”
Oberlin College classics professor Kirk Ormand explores examples of athletes from the ancient world who were worshipped as heroes and commemorated with statues and ongoing religious rituals. The presentation also addresses ways in which these athletes often used their status as athletic victors to influence local politics in their home city-states, much as today’s athletes often become societal influencers.

“Musicians and Athletes: United in Commitment”
A panel representing the conservatory and athletics discusses the many ways in which Oberlin musicians and athletes share much in common, from their dedication to performing at their best to their strategies for overcoming performance-related stress. Included are conservatory professors Sibbi Bernhardsson and Katherine Jolly, psychology professor Paul Thibodeau, head softball coach and wellness coordinator Sarah Schoenhoft, and head women's lacrosse coach Kim Russell. 

"Herodtus Goes to the Olympics"
Classics professor Ben Lee explores the non-athletic cultural events that were a vital part of the ancient Olympic festival: religious feasting, art, even oratory and readings by famous historians of their contemporary work.

-----

Oberlin recommends attendance for vaccinated people. Everyone is required to wear a mask indoors at all times. Anyone with symptoms should refrain from attending campus events. Oberlin policies are subject to change based on evolving public health recommendations.