Oberlin

Oberlin Orchestra with Jeremy Denk '90 at Carnegie Hall

Oberlin Orchestra performs the Firebird Suite by Stravinsky

In the culminating performance of Oberlin Conservatory's tour to New York City, illustrious alumnus Jeremy Denk '90 joins the "stellar" (The New York Times) Oberlin Orchestra under the baton of conductor Raphael Jiménez at Carnegie Hall. The program features Mozart's Piano Concerto in C Major, as well as works by Ravel, Stravinsky, and the New York premiere of Iscariot by alumnus Christopher Rouse '71. Conservatory Dean David H. Stull leads a pre-concert panel discussion with the composer, as well as conductor Timothy Weiss, and Claire Chase '01, recent MacArthur Fellow and founder of ICE.

The Oberlin Orchestra

The Oberlin Orchestra has enjoyed a rich history of notable guest conductors including Igor Stravinsky, Pierre Boulez, Sir Simon Rattle, David Zinman, and John Williams. Recently, the Oberlin Orchestra has appeared at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The New York Times described the orchestra's 2007 critically acclaimed performance conducted by Robert Spano at Carnegie Hall as “stellar. {READ MORE}

Jeremy Denk '90, piano

Jeremy Denk '90 has appeared as soloist with many major orchestras, including the Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, New World, St. Louis, and San Francisco symphonies, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and London Philharmonia. He appears often in recital in New York, Washington, Boston, and Philadelphia. {READ MORE}

Raphael Jiménez, conductor

Born in Florida and raised in Venezuela, Raphael Jiménez was assigned his first conducting responsibility at the Venezuelan National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras (El Sistema). He was soon conducting all the professional orchestras in the country and was appointed principal conductor of the Caracas National Ballet at the age of 22. {READ MORE}

Christopher Rouse '71, composer/panelist

Christopher Rouse is one of America's most prominent composers of orchestral music. His works have won a Pulitzer Prize (Trombone Concerto) and a Grammy Award (Concert de Gaudí), as well as election to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Letters. Rouse has created a body of work perhaps unequalled in its emotional intensity. The New York Times has called it "some of the most anguished, most memorable music around." The Baltimore Sun has written, "When the music history of the late 20th century is written, I suspect the explosive and passionate music of Rouse will loom large." {READ MORE}

Timothy Weiss, panelist

Conductor Timothy Weiss has gained critical acclaim for his performances and brave, adventurous programming throughout the United States and abroad. In his 19 years as music director of the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, he has brought the group to a level of artistry and virtuosity in performance that rivals the finest new music groups. His repertoire in contemporary music is vast and fearless, including masterworks, very recent compositions, and an impressive number of premieres and commissions. {READ MORE}

Claire Chase '01, panelist

Claire Chase, a 2012 MacArthur Fellow, is a soloist, collaborative artist and arts entrepreneur. Over the past decade Claire has given the world premieres of over 100 new works for flute, many of them tailor-made for her. First Prize Winner of the 2008 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, Chase has given critically acclaimed solo recitals recently at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Walter Reade Theater as part of the Great Performers Series at Lincoln Center. Highlights of the current season include solo performances at the Guangzhou Triennial (Guangzhou, China), Museu Pinacoteca (São Paolo, Brazil), debuts in Berlin, Vienna, Paris, and the release of her second solo album, Terrestre. {READ MORE}

Dean David H. Stull '89, panel moderator

On behalf of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Dean of the Conservatory David H. Stull accepted the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama in February 2010. This signature honor is a capstone to his tenure as the conservatory’s chief academic officer, which began with his appointment in 2004. {READ MORE}