For the first time in the Review’s 148-year history, the paper is introducing a one-page section dedicated to covering Conservatory news. This section will serve not only as a venue for traditional news coverage of Conservatory events, curricular changes, faculty, and students, but also as a way for individual artists and groups to tell their stories — stories that capture pivotal moments in their artistic development. The ultimate goal for this new section is to serve as a dynamic bridge between the College and the Conservatory.

The content in the section will demystify the kind of work Conservatory musicians do. Since we spend so much time practicing, rehearsing, collaborating in ensembles, and learning from our professors, many of us have few opportunities to relate our experiences to the wider Oberlin community. Yet all students, regardless of their major, should be able to connect to the frustrations and discoveries we make during those hours. 

The introduction of this section also comes at a critical moment in the Conservatory’s history as it modifies its curriculum to include the formal study of music that has been historically marginalized, a shift that creates a notable starting point for this section.

Chief Classical Music Critic of The New York Times Anthony Tommasini provides a guiding vision for this section. In a retrospective on his first byline for the Times, Tommasini writes, “I’ve always believed that people who love music, even if they lack any training, are more perceptive of the nuances and complexities of a piece than they realize.” As a universal language, music, in all its wonderful complexity and diversity, is more critical than ever in bridging the divides that separate us.

If you are interested in contributing, please email [email protected].