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:

“Alcimedon: An Olympic Victor from Aegina”
Classics professor Chris Trinacty offers a reading of a poem by the Greek poet Pindar about an Olympic victor from the island of Aegina. By connecting this young man to mythological heroes from the island and stressing his familial honor, the presentation illuminates Greek values and the historical situation of the time (460 BCE). 

“Diversity and Inclusion in Oberlin Athletics”
Representatives from numerous Oberlin athletic teams discuss the work Oberlin has done, how they have handled various challenges related to students’ social-justice initiatives, and underscoring the ways in which today’s athletes use their platform to bring attention to important social issues. Featured panelists include women’s basketball coach Stephany Dunmyer, director of track and field and cross country Ray Appenheimer, and admissions counselor and former Oberlin athlete Ana Richardson ’18.

“Reimagined Approaches to Music Theory”
Music theory professor Megan Kaes Long will discuss influences related to the implementation of Oberlin's new music theory curriculum and explore how music theorists around the country are responding to the recent critique of music theory's historical bias toward the Western European tradition.

“Cheating and Magic in Ancient Sports”
Classics professor Drew Wilburn traces the origins of today’s sports scandals to the pervasive instances of cheating perpetrated by early athletes. Even before the first Olympiad in 776 BCE, mythical heroes had cheated in sport and gotten away with it. This talk explores foul play in ancient sports in Greece and Rome, focusing on how magic could be used to ensure a win and defeat one’s enemies.

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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.