News
Got a news item or feature story idea? Member of the media? Contact us: communications@oberlin.edu.
Persistence, Practice, and Determination
February 2, 2021
Yvonne Gay
Instead of an alarm clock, the sounds of Sergei Prokofiev and Chaka Khan would waft through Caylen Bryant’s childhood home every Saturday morning. Those early days served as inspiration for the jazz bass performance and Africana Studies major. After graduating from Oberlin in 2017, Bryant went on to perfect her own sound, and head a music program handed down to her by author and musician James McBride ’79.

This Week in Photos: Creativity and Strength
November 13, 2020
Yvonne Gay
Inspirational words and chalk drawn images on the sidewalks of Wilder Bowl greeted those passing by this past week. This chalk walk exercise resulted in several standout images featured in this week’s photo series.

Live From the Cat
September 2, 2020
Yvonne Gay
The campus community was treated to a live-streamed jazz performance on August 28 from the Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse. The virtual concert was a first for the student-run performance space.

Gabriel Morales Receives Ping Legacy Award for Service-Learning
June 11, 2020
Amanda Nagy
A jazz guitarist, Morales piloted a performance in residence program in Oberlin’s health spaces.

Gerald Cannon Joins Conservatory Jazz Faculty
June 5, 2020
Erich Burnett
Accomplished bassist and educator played with Roy Hargrove, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and many other top performers.

Maker, Musician and Steel Pan Tuner: Noah Sanderson ’16
June 5, 2019
Andrea Wang ’19
Noah Sanderson ’16 is a lifelong maker and musician who became serious about steel pan while at Oberlin. Since graduation, he has been gradually improving his skills tuning and making these instruments.

Courtney Bryan ’04 Awarded Rome Prize for Composition
May 8, 2019
Erich Burnett
Multitalented musician to live in Italy, create chamber piece based on the life of an ancient emperor.

Jazz Supergroup Spring Quartet Performs April 17 in Finney Chapel
April 9, 2019
By Erich Burnett
Final performance of the 2018-19 Artist Recital Series also concludes a three-day celebration of the Jazz Studies degree at Oberlin; limited tickets remain.

Oberlin Celebrates 30 Years of the Jazz Studies Degree
April 2, 2019
Erich Burnett
A three-day symposium, April 15-17, made possible by James R. ’58 and Susan Neumann, features talks, films, a faculty performance, and an appearance by the Spring Quartet.

Five-Time Grammy Winner Maria Schneider Holds Residency at Oberlin
March 12, 2019
By Erich Burnett
Jazz composer, bandleader, and musician advocate helms student sessions and a March 16 performance of the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble.
