Oberlin College & Conservatory Celebrates Black History Month

March 12, 2024

Communications Staff

Watercolor shapes on cream background under text that reads "Ode to Home," 2024 Oberlin College Black History Month

Throughout February 2024 (and a little into March), Oberlin commemorated Black History Month around the theme Ode to Home, which explored ideas and experiences related to people of African descent creating and maintaining a physical home or a sense of home as a group and as individuals.

Students organized the annual Black History Month Fashion Show in Hales Gym and the ABUSUA Ball in the Hotel at Oberlin. Tenor Joshua Blue '16 returned to campus to perform with Oberlin Sinfonietta. Academic and residential life programming, like the library's Frederick Douglass Transcribathon, and A-House's Mardi Gras feast and Alumni Soul Session, gave the Oberlin community opportunities to learn, relax, and connect.

A male student in a green outfit poses for an audience at a fashion show in a gymnasium. — The Black History Month Fashion Show in Hales Gym.

Photo credit: Mike Crupi

A female student puts on her makeup in the mirror in the dressing room for a fashion show. — Getting ready for the fashion show in the green room.

Photo credit: Mike Crupi

A male student poses in front of an audience for a fashion show in a gymnasium. — The Black History Month Fashion Show was an homage to The Wiz.

Photo credit: Abe Frato

Four students posing for the camera at a party. — Having fun at the ABUSUA Ball.

Photo credit: Kadrian Hinton

A choir performing on the stage of Finney Chapel. — Trey McLaughlin and The Sounds of Zamar Artist Recital Series concert.

Photo credit: Yevhen Gulenko

Students eating a Mardi Gras meal in the dining hall. — Mardi Gras feast at A-House.

Photo credit: John Seyfried

Joshua Blue performing with Oberlin Sinfonietta in Warner Concert Hall. — Joshua Blue '16 singing with Oberlin Sinfonietta.

Photo credit: Nathaniel Liu

Students in Afrikana House common area during Soul Session. — Alumni Soul Session at A-House.

Photo credit: Nathaniel Liu

Musicians posing on the stage of Kulas Recital Hall after their concert. — Linking Legacies concert with (from left to right) Chris Jenkins, viola; John McLaughlin Williams, violin; Theresa May, trumpet; Khari Joyner, cello; Diana White-Gould '84, piano; and Cornelius Johnson, tenor.

Photo credit: Mike Crupi

Students gathered for a large group photo at the ABUSUA Ball — There's no place like home.

Photo credit: Kadrian Hinton

Violinist Maya Irizarry Lambright to Solo with Oberlin Orchestra

May 9, 2024

A winner of the 2023-24 Senior Concerto Competition, Lambright will open the program with Shulamit Ran's Violin Concerto. The second half of the program features the orchestra in Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade.

violinist wearing gray suite and with short curly hair stands in front of windows

Peter Takács—A Half-Century Celebrated

May 4, 2024

This spring marks the official conclusion of Takács’ tenure, after an incredible 48 years of teaching. Many of his former students from around the world are set to convene for a celebratory concert in Warner Concert Hall on May 12

man seated in front of grand piano

Pianist Jiongli Wang to Perform with Oberlin Chamber Orchestra

May 2, 2024

On Friday, May 3, the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra performs a program that will showcase Concerto Competition winner Jiongli Wang in Frédéric Chopin’s First Piano Concerto, as well as fourth-year composition student Cashel Day-Lewis in the premiere of his Black River Prelude commissioned by Oberlin Conservatory in honor of the Lorain County Bicentennial.

portrait of pianist Jiongli Wang standing in front of a grand piano