Con Must Reach Out 

To the Editor:

I have a very simple request: As anyone who frequents the Conservatory knows, it is impossible to take two steps in that building without tripping over a large, brightly-colored, official-looking flyer announcing the latest Orchestral/Choral/Solo Euphonium concert. Now, the vast majority of people reading this are probably not regular visitors of the Con, and you’re probably thinking, “Large brightly-colored official-looking flyers? I’ve never seen those. Every time I walk by there, all I see is people smoking by that Japanese pond thing.” Well, despite appearances, there is more to the Conservatory than smoking by the pond. On a daily basis, and generally at a very high level of quality, there are concerts of every imaginable size, shape, and genre. “Wow,” you are no doubt saying, “I didn’t know that.” Of course you didn’t, because those large, brightly-colored, official-looking flyers are NOWHERE TO BE FOUND outside the bubble of the Con!
This is absolutely ridiculous. Western art music (or whatever you want to call it) needs all the support it can get. It is part of the Conservatory’s responsibility to make the wonderful music its faculty and students produce available and accessible to ALL members of the Oberlin community. Far too many times, I’ve had College friends of mine come to a concert, only to hear them say that they feel “out of place.” Despite my best reassurances, they could not shake the feeling that this was a private party that they weren’t invited to. Unfortunately, I can hardly blame them for feeling this way.
Advertising in the Con and in the Review’s Campus Arts Calendar is all well and good, but there is so much more that can and should be done. The artistry coming out of the Con should be one of those things that give us a communal sense of pride for all the amazing stuff that happens at Oberlin. It is as much a part of the Oberlin experience as Drag Ball, the Bike Derby and admiring the glorious architecture of Dascomb, and should be celebrated as such by anyone and everyone who is at all curious and interested
If I even see just one or two of those large, brightly-colored, official-looking flyers in King, Wilder and Mudd, I would be satisfied in knowing that the Conservatory is at least making an effort to reach its ENTIRE audience. So far, however, I have seen no indication of this happening. So, to those in the Conservatory in charge of publicity, this is my request: Get the word out to ALL of Oberlin about our concerts! We students can help, but ultimately you and your brightly-colored flyers have the power to make a real and positive change in how the Conservatory is perceived. Inclusion, not exclusion!

–Jacob Adams
Double-degree sophomore