The Oberlin Conservatory

and Music and The Cleveland Orchestra

Although The Cleveland Orchestra and Oberlin Conservatory collaboration seems like new growth, its roots actually run wide
and deep:

∑ Founded in December 1918, The Cleveland Orchestra first performed at Oberlinπs Finney Chapel in the spring of 1919. Since then it has appeared each season ã 203 times ã under the auspices of the Collegeπs Artist Recital Series. The musiciansπ roster of The Cleveland Orchestra has consistently included faculty members and graduates of the

Oberlin Conservatory. Current members of The Cleveland Orchestra are Associate Professor of Viola da Gamba and Cello Catharine Meints, Teachers of Double Bass Scott Haigh and Tom Sperl, and Teacher of Tuba Ron Bishop. Current members of The Cleveland Orchestra who have graduated from the Conservatory are John Rautenberg π58, associate principal flute; Mary Kay Fink π83, flute and piccolo; Paul Kushious π83, cello; Michael Mayhew π92, associate principal horn; Donald Miller π72, percussion and librarian; and Trina Struble π91, assistant principal harp.

∑ Oberlin has conferred honorary doctor of music degrees on three past Cleveland Orchestra music directors: Artur Rodzinski, George Szell, and Christoph von Dohn·nyi

∑ Former Oberlin College President Fred Starr served as a national trustee of The Cleveland Orchestra, from 1988 through 1992.

∑ John Long Severance graduated from Oberlin College in 1885. He was the lead donor for the construction of the Orchestraπs opulent home, Severance Hall (the Oberlin campus also boasts a Severance Hall, originally built to house science classrooms). John Long Severance was also the second president of The Cleveland Orchestraπs board of trustees.