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The roots of the collaboration between the Cleveland Orchestra and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music run wide and deep:
- Founded in December 1918, The Cleveland Orchestra first performed at Oberlin's Finney Chapel in the spring of 1919. Since then it has appeared each season - 204 times - under the auspices of the College's Artist Recital Series. The musicians' roster of The Cleveland Orchestra has consistently included faculty members and graduates of the
Oberlin Conservatory. Current and recent members of The Cleveland Orchestra are Associate Professor of Viola da Gamba and Cello Catharina Meints, Teachers of Double Bass Scott Haigh and Thomas Sperl, Teacher of Tuba Ronald Bishop, and Professor of Trombone James DeSano, who retired from the Orchestra in 2003 after more than 30 years. Current members of The Cleveland Orchestra who have graduated from the Conservatory are John Rautenberg '58, associate principal flute; Mary Kay Fink '83, flute and piccolo; Paul Kushious '83, cello; Michael Mayhew '92, associate principal horn; Donald Miller '72, percussion and librarian; and Trina Struble '91, 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 Dohnányi.
- 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 Orchestra's opulent home, Severance Hall (the Oberlin campus also boasts a Severance Hall, originally built to house science classrooms). Severance was also the second president of The Cleveland Orchestra's board of trustees.
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