Faculty and Staff Notes
Two Works by Horn Professor and Composer Jeff Scott Given World Premiere Performances
April 19, 2022
Oberlin French horn professor Jeff Scott also pursues a rich life as a composer. This spring, his pieces have been part of world premiere performances in New York and Detroit.
Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall was the setting for a March 31 performance of his song "Für Meinen Vater" (For My Father). Scott’s song is part of a larger work which received its world premiere that evening, the song cycle Forgotten Voices. Commissioned by Music Kitchen—Food for the Soul, a project of violinist Kelly Hall-Tomkins, with additional support from Carnegie Hall, it features text by homeless shelter clients. The full cycle incorporates songs written by 15 award-winning composers, including Oberlin alumna Courtney Bryan '04.
Scott's most recent premiere on April 9, was a commission of Chamber Music Detroit. Prior to his appointment at Oberlin, Scott was a member of the Oberlin alumni-founded chamber music ensemble Imani Winds. For this project, he collaborated with his longtime ensemble partners on the work, Fallen Petals of Nameless Flowers. The piece features poetry by Robert Laidler and is based on the experiences of four Michigan Juvenile Lifers. Imani Winds counts among its members three Oberlin alumni—flutist Brandon Patrick George '08, oboist Toyin Spellman-Diaz '94, and bassoonist Monica Ellis '95. View the full performance.
Allegra Hyde Publishes in Lithub and Poets & Writers; Gives Interviews on her Novel 'Eleutheria'
April 12, 2022
Allegra Hyde, Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, published an essay in LitHub called “What Makes A Great Opening Line?” about the qualities of compelling first sentences in fiction. She also published a series of four craft capsules for Poets & Writers on setting and ecology in fiction: “You Can Never Do Just One Thing,” “The Face in the Whirlpool,” “If a Tree Falls,” and “These Walls Won’t Stop Talking.”
Hyde was interviewed about her novel, Eleutheria, by Matt Bell for BOMB, Rachel Reeher for Hayden’s Ferry Review, Adam Vitcavage for Debutiful, Anne Nickoloff for Cleveland.com, and by Chris Holmes for the podcast Burned by Books.
Sheila Miyoshi Jager Lectures at OSU East Asian Studies Center
April 12, 2022
Professor of East Asian Studies Sheila Miyoshi Jager lectured on "The Other Great Game: The Opening of Korea, Wars of Empires, and the Birth of Modern East Asia" at a conference on April 8 marking the 50th anniversary of Ohio State University's East Asian Studies Center.
Shari Rabin is Guest Speaker on Judaism in 'Keeping it 101' Podcast
April 7, 2022
Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and Religion Shari Rabin was the guest for the podcast Keeping it 101: A Killjoy's Introduction to the Study of Religion's episode on Judaism.
Shuming Chen Co-Authors Research in 'Nature Chemistry' Journal
April 7, 2022
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Shuming Chen co-authored a research article in Nature Chemistry with Professor Eric Meggers' research group at the University of Marburg, Germany. This collaborative experimental and computational study reveals that non-covalent interactions, such as π–π stacking, hold the key to stereocontrol (control over three-dimensional shapes of molecules) in a novel synthesis of chiral α-amino acids catalyzed by ruthenium and iron complexes.
Stiliana Milkova Discusses her Book on Elena Ferrante for 'The Smart Set' Magazine
April 7, 2022
Associate Professor of Comparative Literature Stiliana Milkova was interviewed by Oberlin alumna Bri di Monda for The Smart Set magazine. In the interview, Milkova discusses her recent book Elena Ferrante as World Literature, images of disgust in Maggie Gyllenhaal's film adaptation of Ferrante's novel The Lost Daughter, and the "Carmen Mola" vs. "Elena Ferrante" debate.
Chanda Feldman Presents at Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference
March 31, 2022
Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Chanda Feldman presented and participated in a panel, "Reverberation: The Book Review as Literary (Labor) Labor," at the 2022 Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference held virtually and in Philadelphia, March 23-26.
Kirk Ormand Publishes Article in 'Queer Euripides: Re-Readings in Greek Tragedy'
March 31, 2022
Professor of Classics Kirk Ormand has published a new article, "Into the Queer Ionisphere," in a volume of essays titled Queer Euripides: Re-Readings in Greek Tragedy, eds. Sarah Olsen and Mario Telo (Bloomsbury, 2022), pp. 120-129. The volume provides queer readings of all nineteen of the Athenian playwright Euripides' extant plays. Ormand's essay discusses the play Ion, examining its manipulation of secret familial and political identities in the service of Athenian citizenship. Queer Euripides is available at finer booksellers everywhere.
Nathan H. Dize Discusses Translation of Haitian Literature in Podcast
March 31, 2022
Visiting Assistant Professor of French Nathan H. Dize was recently featured on the Nèg/Fanm Mawon Podcast to talk about translating Haitian literature, Haitian Creole and French, and the creative process. He discusses his 2020 translation of Makenzy Orcel's The Immortals with host Patrick Jean-Baptiste.
Patrick Simen Discusses His Research for 'Space Cave' Podcast
March 31, 2022
Associate Professor of Neuroscience Patrick Simen was on the Space Cave podcast discussing his research for a general audience.