[NEohioPAL]Oberlin Chamber Orchestra to Perform at Severance Hall

[Marci Janas]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	MEDIA CONTACT: Marci Janas
March 29, 2004			440-775-8328//marci.janas at oberlin.edu


ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR OF THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA JAMES GAFFIGAN LEADS THE=20
OBERLIN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AT SEVERANCE HALL FRIDAY, APRIL 22

OBERLIN and CLEVELAND, OHIO --The Oberlin Chamber Orchestra will present a=20
concert at Cleveland's Severance Hall Friday, April 22, at 8 p.m. under the =

baton of James Gaffigan, assistant conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra. He =

will lead the ensemble in Debussy's Pr=E9lude =E0 midi d'un faune and La =
Mer as=20
well as Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (the revised version of 1945), and the=20
prelude to Mussorgsky's opera Khovantchina.

Tickets are $5 for the general public and free for those with an Oberlin=20
College I.D.: students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents. Seating is=20
general admission. To order, please call the Severance Hall Box Office at=20
216-231-1111. Severance Hall is located at 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland,=20
Ohio. For additional information please visit oberlin.edu.

This concert is produced with the support of the Kulas Foundation and is=20
dedicated to the distinguished voice professor Helen Hodam, who taught at=20
Oberlin from 1963 to 1984 and whose students included mezzo soprano Denyce=20
Graves '85 and sopranos Lisa Saffer '82 and Ann Panagulias '84.

Media sponsorship is provided by WCLV 104.9 FM, Cleveland's classical music =

radio station. WCLV will broadcast the concert live, with a simulcast on=20
wclv.com, beginning at 8 p.m. thanks to the sponsorship of the Riverside=20
Company, a leading private equity firm specializing in premier companies.

"The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is honored to provide this concert for=20
the people of Cleveland and Northern Ohio, and to continue our relationship =

with The Cleveland Orchestra," says Dean of the Conservatory David Stull.=20
"The opportunity to perform in one of the world's great music halls would=20
not be possible without the generosity of the Kulas Foundation, and we are=20
grateful for their support."

The Conservatory dean's office is making available free bus transportation, =

on a first-come, first-serve basis, for members of the Oberlin community=20
who wish to attend the concert. Those wishing to ride the bus to Severance=20
Hall must do the following:

1. Call the Severance Hall Box Office (216-231-1111) to reserve a ticket=20
for the concert;

2. Reserve bus seats in advance by calling or e-mailing Nita Karpf at=20
440-775-8926 or nita.karpf at oberlin.edu; and

3. Report to the Oberlin College Main Library at the Mudd Center parking=20
lot on East College Street no later than 6:15 p.m.  Buses will depart=20
promptly at 6:30 p.m.

According to Peter Laki, program annotator for The Cleveland Orchestra and=20
visiting associate professor of music history at Oberlin, there had been,=20
since the end of the 19th century, "a great affinity between Russia and=20
France." The Oberlin program at Severance Hall, with works by Debussy,=20
Stravinsky, and Mussorgsky, reflects that cultural mutuality; Debussy=20
admired and had been influenced by the music of the 19th-century Russian=20
masters, and Sergei Diaghilev's Paris-based Ballets Russes (Diaghilev had=20
worked with Debussy), was the company with whom Stravinsky began a rich and =

prolific history, beginning with the music he wrote for Michel Fokine's=20
ballet, The Firebird. Laki notes that by virtue of Stravinsky's innovative=20
handling of rhythm and his masterful orchestration (Oberlin is performing=20
his 1945 version; the original was written in 1910), The Firebird has=20
remained Stravinsky's most popular work.

The appearance in Cleveland by the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra is one of=20
several projects to emerge from the developing collaboration between The=20
Cleveland Orchestra and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. This=20
collaboration builds upon a core element of Oberlin's mission: professional =

training and contact with one of the world's great orchestras is seminal to =

a formal music education.

On the institutions' collaboration, Cleveland Orchestra Executive Director=20
Gary Hanson says: "We are pleased to share our Severance Hall stage with=20
the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, and we welcome these talented young people=20
to Cleveland. The Cleveland Orchestra has long enjoyed an association with=20
Oberlin College and because of Franz Welser-M=F6st's commitment to =
education,=20
our relationship with this fine conservatory has been invigorated."

Welser-M=F6st, music director of The Cleveland Orchestra, took the Oberlin=20
Orchestra through a rehearsal of Beethoven's Leonore Overture in 2003.=20
Several students and recent graduates of the Conservatory's vocal studies=20
program have performed with The Cleveland Orchestra the past several=20
seasons, including Todd Boyce '05, Karen Jesse '04 Kathryn Leemhuis '05,=20
Jean Lowe '04, Marie Masters '05, and Rebecca Ringle '02, who sang=20
supporting roles last spring in Richard Strauss's Elektra.

The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, founded in 1865 and situated within the=20
intellectual vitality of Oberlin College since 1867, is the oldest=20
continuously operating conservatory in the United States. Called "a=20
national treasure"  by the Washington Post, Oberlin is renowned=20
internationally as a professional music school of the highest caliber, and=20
its alumni have gone on to achieve illustrious careers in all aspects of=20
the serious music world. Numerous Oberlin alumni have attained stature as=20
solo performers, composers, and conductors, among them Jennifer Koh, Steven =

Isserlis, Denyce Graves, Franco Farina, Lisa Saffer, George Walker,=20
Christopher Rouse, David Zinman, and Robert Spano. All of the members of=20
the contemporary music ensembles eighth blackbird and the International=20
Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) are Oberlin graduates, and members of the =
Mir=F3,=20
Pacifica, Juilliard, and Fry Street quartets, among others, include Oberlin =

alumni, who can also be found in major orchestras and opera companies=20
throughout the world.
For more information about Oberlin, please visit Oberlin.edu.


# # #


BACKGROUNDER 1 of 4:

The Oberlin Conservatory and Music and The Cleveland Orchestra

The roots of the collaboration between the Cleveland Orchestra and the=20
Oberlin Conservatory of Music run wide and deep:

* Founded in December 1918, The Cleveland Orchestra first performed at=20
Oberlin's Finney Chapel in the spring of 1919. Since then it has appeared=20
each season--204 times--under the auspices of the College's Artist Recital=20
Series. The musicians' roster of The Cleveland Orchestra has consistently=20
included faculty members and graduates of the Oberlin Conservatory. Current =

and recent members of The Cleveland Orchestra are Associate Professor of=20
Viola da Gamba and Cello Catharina Meints, Teachers of Double Bass Scott=20
Haigh and Thomas Sperl, Teacher of Tuba Ronald Bishop, and Professor of=20
Trombone James DeSano, who retired from the Orchestra in 2003 after more=20
than 30 years. Current members of The Cleveland Orchestra who have=20
graduated from the Conservatory are John Rautenberg '58, associate=20
principal flute; Mary Kay Fink =9283, flute and piccolo; Paul Kushious =
=9283,=20
cello; Michael Mayhew '92, associate principal horn; Donald Miller '72,=20
percussion and librarian; and Trina Struble '91, assistant principal harp.

* Oberlin has conferred honorary doctor of music degrees on three past=20
Cleveland Orchestra music directors: Artur Rodzinski, George Szell, and=20
Christoph von Dohn=E1nyi

* Former Oberlin College President Fred Starr served as a national trustee=20
of The Cleveland Orchestra, from 1988 through 1992.

* John Long Severance graduated from Oberlin College in 1885. He was the=20
lead donor for the construction of the Orchestra's opulent home, Severance=20
Hall (the Oberlin campus also boasts a Severance Hall, originally built to=20
house science classrooms). Severance was also the second president of The=20
Cleveland Orchestra=92s board of trustees.


# # #



BACKGROUNDER 2 OF 4

James Gaffigan Biography

James Gaffigan is in his second season as an assistant conductor of The=20
Cleveland Orchestra and as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth=20
Orchestra, having been appointed to these posts by Music Director Franz=20
Welser-M=F6st in June 2003. As assistant conductor, Gaffigan assists=20
Welser-M=F6st, participates in the planning and conducting of education=20
concerts, conducts Christmas concerts, and serves as cover conductor for=20
Severance Hall subscription concerts and Blossom Festival concerts.

Gaffigan made his Cleveland Orchestra debut at the Blossom Festival in=20
August of 2002, conducting a performance of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet=20
Overture-Fantasy as part of a collaboration between The Cleveland Orchestra =

and the Aspen Music Festival and School. During the summers of 2000-2002,=20
he was a conducting fellow at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen,=20
which is directed by David Zinman. In 2002, Gaffigan was the recipient of=20
the first Robert Harth Conducting Award at Aspen. During the summer of=20
2003, he attended Tanglewood as a conducting fellow. In September 2004,=20
Gaffigan was one of two first prize winners at the Sir Georg Solti=20
International Conductors=92 Competition, the finals of which took place in=20
Frankfurt, Germany.

Gaffigan served as music director of his first opera production, Mozart=92s =

Cos=EC fan tutte, in the spring of 2003. He conducted six performances of =
the=20
opera at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he was=20
enrolled in the graduate conducting program. During the fall of 2002,=20
Gaffigan took part in Synergy, a program organized by the Los Angeles=20
Philharmonic and the American Symphony Orchestra League. As part of this=20
program, he premiered a new work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under=20
the guidance of Esa-Pekka Salonen. Next, Gaffigan covered a series of=20
concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with guest conductor Andr=E9=20
Previn. Also in the fall of 2002, Gaffigan conducted a regional tour with=20
the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he led the Houston Symphony =

in rehearsal for Hans Graf during the 2002-03 season.

Gaffigan is a native of New York City, where he began musical studies at=20
the LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, and in the Juilliard=20
Preparatory Division. His undergraduate degree is from the New England=20
Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he worked closely with Boston=20
Philharmonic conductor Benjamin Zander and received the first Benjamin=20
Zander Conducting Fellowship, which played a key role in Gaffigan's=20
emergence as a young conductor. In May 2003, Gaffigan received his graduate =

degree in conducting from Rice University, where he studied with Larry=20
Rachleff. Gaffigan also has studied conducting with Frank Battisti, Jorma=20
Panula, and Robert Spano.

# # #

BACKGROUNDER 3 OF 4
About the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra

The Oberlin Chamber Orchestra is one of more than 25 student ensembles at=20
the Conservatory; 75 members of the chamber orchestra will appear on stage=20
for the performance at Severance Hall, for which J Freivogel, of Kirkwood,=20
Missouri, will be concertmaster. He is a student of Professor of Violin=20
Marilyn McDonald and is completing his fourth year in Oberlin's double=20
degree program; he will graduate in 2006 with a bachelor of music degree as =

well as a bachelor of arts in politics. A recipient of the Presser Music=20
Award and the Kaufman Prize, he was named one of Northeast Ohio's "Best and =

Brightest"  in 2004 by Northern Ohio Live magazine. Freivogel is first=20
violinist of the Jasper Quartet; with them he will attend the Advanced=20
Quartet Studies Program at the Aspen Music Festival this summer.

The Oberlin Chamber Orchestra follows a demanding schedule of six hours of=20
rehearsal each week as well as concerts every three to four weeks. Students =

are exposed to a cross section of orchestral literature, and perform=20
well-known works from the standard orchestral repertoire as well as less=20
familiar works ranging from the baroque to the contemporary. The orchestra=20
also collaborates with the Oberlin Opera Theater and the Conservatory=92s=20
larger choral ensembles.

Robert Spano, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, is=20
professor of conducting at the Oberlin Conservatory. Other conductors on=20
the Oberlin faculty are Timothy Weiss, Hugh Floyd, John Knight, Wendell=20
Logan, and Philip Highfill. Guest conductors of the Oberlin Chamber=20
Orchestra have included Sir Simon Rattle, Robert Shaw, Michael Morgan, Hugh =

Wolff, Catherine Comet, Oscar Shumsky, Eve Queler, and composer John=20
Williams--most recently at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.


# # #
	

BACKGROUNDER 4 OF 4


Helen Hodam


Helen Hodam is one of the most beloved and distinguished vocal teachers in=20
the United States. She taught at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music from=20
1963 until 1984, where her students included renowned mezzo soprano Denyce=20
Graves '85 and sopranos Lisa Saffer '82 and Ann Panagulias '84. Hodam's=20
students have performed with all of the major American opera houses,=20
including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, and the San=20
Francisco Opera, and with European opera companies, including those in=20
Cologne, Munich, Bremen, Vienna, Paris, Zurich, Madrid, and Amsterdam.

Currently retired from the voice faculty of the New England Conservatory of =

Music, she has been associated with the American Institute of Musical=20
Studies in Graz, Austria and the International Institute of Vocal Arts in=20
Chiari, Italy.

Hodam trained in New York, London, and Vienna.


# # #

Media Contact Only:
Marci Janas
440-775-8328
marci.janas at oberlin.edu

3/29/05


Marci Janas
Director of Conservatory Media Relations
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
39 West College Street
Oberlin, OH 44074
Tel: 440-775-8328
Fax: 440-775-5457
marci.janas at oberlin.edu
www.oberlin.edu/con








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<fontfamily><param>Palatino</param><flushleft><bold><underline><<EDITORS =
PLEASE NOTE: THIS RELEASE INCLUDES BACKGROUNDERS.>



</underline></bold><underline>FOR IMMEDIATE =
RELEASE:</underline>	<underline>MEDIA CONTACT: Marci Janas

</underline>March 29, =
2004			<color><param>0000,0000,00ff</param><bold><underline>440-775-8328//ma=
rci.janas at oberlin.edu



</underline></bold></color><bold><bigger>ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR OF THE =
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA JAMES GAFFIGAN LEADS THE OBERLIN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AT =
SEVERANCE HALL FRIDAY, APRIL 22=20


</bold>OBERLIN and CLEVELAND, OHIO --The Oberlin Chamber Orchestra will =
present a concert at Cleveland's Severance Hall Friday, April 22, at 8 p.m. =
under the baton of James Gaffigan, assistant conductor of The Cleveland =
Orchestra. He will lead the ensemble in Debussy's <italic>Pr=E9lude =E0 =
midi d'un faune</italic> and <italic>La Mer </italic>as well as =
Stravinsky's <italic>Firebird Suite</italic> (the revised version of 1945), =
and the prelude to Mussorgsky's opera <italic>Khovantchina.</italic>=20


Tickets are $5 for the general public and free for those with an Oberlin =
College I.D.: students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents. Seating is =
general admission. To order, please call the Severance Hall Box Office at =
216-231-1111. Severance Hall is located at 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, =
Ohio. For additional information please visit oberlin.edu.


This concert is produced with the support of the Kulas Foundation and is =
dedicated to the distinguished voice professor Helen Hodam, who taught at =
Oberlin from 1963 to 1984 and whose students included mezzo soprano Denyce =
Graves '85 and sopranos Lisa Saffer '82 and Ann Panagulias '84. =20


Media sponsorship is provided by WCLV 104.9 FM, Cleveland's classical music =
radio station. WCLV will broadcast the concert live, with a simulcast on =
wclv.com, beginning at 8 p.m. thanks to the sponsorship of the Riverside =
Company, a leading private equity firm specializing in premier companies.


"The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is honored to provide this concert for =
the people of Cleveland and Northern Ohio, and to continue our relationship =
with The Cleveland Orchestra," says Dean of the Conservatory David Stull. =
"The opportunity to perform in one of the world's great music halls would =
not be possible without the generosity of the Kulas Foundation, and we are =
grateful for their support."


The Conservatory dean's office is making available free bus transportation, =
on a first-come, first-serve basis, for members of the Oberlin community =
who wish to attend the concert. Those wishing to ride the bus to Severance =
Hall must do the following:


1. <bold>Call</bold> the <bold>Severance Hall Box Office =
(216-231-1111)</bold> to reserve a ticket for the concert;=20


2. <bold>Reserve</bold> bus seats in advance by calling or e-mailing =
<bold>Nita Karpf at 440-775-8926 or =
<color><param>0000,0000,00ff</param><underline>nita.karpf at oberlin.edu</under=
line></color></bold>; and


3. <bold>Report</bold> to the Oberlin College Main Library at the =
<bold>Mudd Center parking lot</bold> on East College Street <bold>no later =
than 6:15 p.m.</bold>  Buses will depart promptly at 6:30 p.m. =20


According to Peter Laki, program annotator for The Cleveland Orchestra and =
visiting associate professor of music history at Oberlin, there had been, =
since the end of the 19th century, "a great affinity between Russia and =
France." The Oberlin program at Severance Hall, with works by Debussy, =
Stravinsky, and Mussorgsky, reflects that cultural mutuality; Debussy =
admired and had been influenced by the music of the 19th-century Russian =
masters, and Sergei Diaghilev's Paris-based <italic>Ballets</italic> =
<italic>Russes </italic>(Diaghilev had worked with Debussy), was the =
company with whom Stravinsky began a rich and prolific history, beginning =
with the music he wrote for Michel Fokine's ballet, <italic>The =
Firebird</italic>. Laki notes that by virtue of Stravinsky's innovative =
handling of rhythm and his masterful orchestration (Oberlin is performing =
his 1945 version; the original was written in 1910), <italic>The =
Firebird</italic> has remained Stravinsky's most popular work.


The appearance in Cleveland by the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra is one of =
several projects to emerge from the developing collaboration between The =
Cleveland Orchestra and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. This =
collaboration builds upon a core element of Oberlin's mission: professional =
training and contact with one of the world's great orchestras is seminal to =
a formal music education.=20


On the institutions' collaboration, Cleveland Orchestra Executive Director =
Gary Hanson says: "We are pleased to share our Severance Hall stage with =
the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, and we welcome these talented young people =
to Cleveland. The Cleveland Orchestra has long enjoyed an association with =
Oberlin College and because of Franz Welser-M=F6st's commitment to =
education, our relationship with this fine conservatory has been =
invigorated."=20


Welser-M=F6st, music director of The Cleveland Orchestra, took the Oberlin =
Orchestra through a rehearsal of Beethoven's <italic>Leonore Overture =
</italic>in 2003. Several students and recent graduates of the =
Conservatory's vocal studies program have performed with The Cleveland =
Orchestra the past several seasons, including Todd Boyce '05, Karen Jesse =
'04 Kathryn Leemhuis '05, Jean Lowe '04, Marie Masters '05, and Rebecca =
Ringle '02, who sang supporting roles last spring in Richard Strauss's =
<italic>Elektra.


</italic><bold>The Oberlin Conservatory of Music</bold>, founded in 1865 =
and situated within the intellectual vitality of Oberlin College since =
1867, is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United =
States. Called "a national treasure"  by the <italic>Washington =
Post</italic>, Oberlin is renowned internationally as a professional music =
school of the highest caliber, and its alumni have gone on to achieve =
illustrious careers in all aspects of the serious music world. Numerous =
Oberlin alumni have attained stature as solo performers, composers, and =
conductors, among them Jennifer Koh, Steven Isserlis, Denyce Graves, Franco =
Farina, Lisa Saffer, George Walker, Christopher Rouse, David Zinman, and =
Robert Spano. All of the members of the contemporary music ensembles eighth =
blackbird and the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) are Oberlin =
graduates, and members of the Mir=F3, Pacifica, Juilliard, and Fry Street =
quartets, among others, include Oberlin alumni, who can also be found in =
major orchestras and opera companies throughout the world.

For more information about Oberlin, please visit Oberlin.edu.



<color><param>9999,6666,9999</param># # #

</color>


<bold>BACKGROUNDER 1 of 4:


The Oberlin Conservatory and Music and The Cleveland Orchestra


</bold>The roots of the collaboration between the Cleveland Orchestra and =
the Oberlin Conservatory of Music run wide and deep:=20


* 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 =9283, flute and piccolo; Paul Kushious =
=9283, cello; Michael Mayhew '92, associate principal horn; Donald Miller =
'72, percussion and librarian; and Trina Struble '91, assistant principal =
harp.=20


* Oberlin has conferred honorary doctor of music degrees on three past =
Cleveland Orchestra music directors: Artur Rodzinski, George Szell, and =
Christoph von Dohn=E1nyi


* 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=92s board of trustees.



<color><param>9999,6666,9999</param># # #

</color>



<bold>BACKGROUNDER 2 OF 4


James Gaffigan Biography


</bold>James Gaffigan is in his second season as an assistant conductor of =
The Cleveland Orchestra and as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra =
Youth Orchestra, having been appointed to these posts by Music Director =
Franz Welser-M=F6st in June 2003. As assistant conductor, Gaffigan assists =
Welser-M=F6st, participates in the planning and conducting of education =
concerts, conducts Christmas concerts, and serves as cover conductor for =
Severance Hall subscription concerts and Blossom Festival concerts.=20


Gaffigan made his Cleveland Orchestra debut at the Blossom Festival in =
August of 2002, conducting a performance of Tchaikovsky's <italic>Romeo and =
Juliet</italic> Overture-Fantasy as part of a collaboration between The =
Cleveland Orchestra and the Aspen Music Festival and School. During the =
summers of 2000-2002, he was a conducting fellow at the American Academy of =
Conducting at Aspen, which is directed by David Zinman. In 2002, Gaffigan =
was the recipient of the first Robert Harth Conducting Award at Aspen. =
During the summer of 2003, he attended Tanglewood as a conducting fellow. =
In September 2004, Gaffigan was one of two first prize winners at the Sir =
Georg Solti International Conductors=92 Competition, the finals of which =
took place in Frankfurt, Germany.


Gaffigan served as music director of his first opera production, Mozart=92s =
<italic>Cos=EC fan tutte</italic>, in the spring of 2003. He conducted six =
performances of the opera at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice =
University, where he was enrolled in the graduate conducting program. =
During the fall of 2002, Gaffigan took part in Synergy, a program organized =
by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the American Symphony Orchestra League. =
As part of this program, he premiered a new work with the Los Angeles =
Philharmonic under the guidance of Esa-Pekka Salonen. Next, Gaffigan =
covered a series of concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with guest =
conductor Andr=E9 Previn. Also in the fall of 2002, Gaffigan conducted a =
regional tour with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he led =
the Houston Symphony in rehearsal for Hans Graf during the 2002-03 season.


Gaffigan is a native of New York City, where he began musical studies at =
the LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, and in the Juilliard =
Preparatory Division. His undergraduate degree is from the New England =
Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he worked closely with Boston =
Philharmonic conductor Benjamin Zander and received the first Benjamin =
Zander Conducting Fellowship, which played a key role in Gaffigan's =
emergence as a young conductor. In May 2003, Gaffigan received his graduate =
degree in conducting from Rice University, where he studied with Larry =
Rachleff. Gaffigan also has studied conducting with Frank Battisti, Jorma =
Panula, and Robert Spano.


<color><param>9999,6666,9999</param># # #

</color>

<bold>BACKGROUNDER 3 OF 4

About the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra


The Oberlin Chamber Orchestra</bold> is one of more than 25 student =
ensembles at the Conservatory; 75 members of the chamber orchestra will =
appear on stage for the performance at Severance Hall, for which J =
Freivogel, of Kirkwood, Missouri, will be concertmaster. He is a student of =
Professor of Violin Marilyn McDonald and is completing his fourth year in =
Oberlin's double degree program; he will graduate in 2006 with a bachelor =
of music degree as well as a bachelor of arts in politics. A recipient of =
the Presser Music Award and the Kaufman Prize, he was named one of =
Northeast Ohio's "Best and Brightest"  in 2004 by <italic>Northern =
Ohio</italic> <italic>Live</italic> magazine. Freivogel is first violinist =
of the Jasper Quartet; with them he will attend the Advanced Quartet =
Studies Program at the Aspen Music Festival this summer.


The Oberlin Chamber Orchestra follows a demanding schedule of six hours of =
rehearsal each week as well as concerts every three to four weeks. Students =
are exposed to a cross section of orchestral literature, and perform =
well-known works from the standard orchestral repertoire as well as less =
familiar works ranging from the baroque to the contemporary. The orchestra =
also collaborates with the Oberlin Opera Theater and the Conservatory=92s =
larger choral ensembles.


Robert Spano, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, is =
professor of conducting at the Oberlin Conservatory. Other conductors on =
the Oberlin faculty are Timothy Weiss, Hugh Floyd, John Knight, Wendell =
Logan, and Philip Highfill. Guest conductors of the Oberlin Chamber =
Orchestra have included Sir Simon Rattle, Robert Shaw, Michael Morgan, Hugh =
Wolff, Catherine Comet, Oscar Shumsky, Eve Queler, and composer John =
Williams--most recently at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.=20



<color><param>9999,6666,9999</param># # #

</color>	


<bold>BACKGROUNDER 4 OF 4



Helen Hodam



</bold>Helen Hodam is one of the most beloved and distinguished vocal =
teachers in the United States. She taught at the Oberlin Conservatory of =
Music from 1963 until 1984, where her students included renowned mezzo =
soprano Denyce Graves '85 and sopranos Lisa Saffer '82 and Ann Panagulias =
'84. Hodam's students have performed with all of the major American opera =
houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, and the San =
Francisco Opera, and with European opera companies, including those in =
Cologne, Munich, Bremen, Vienna, Paris, Zurich, Madrid, and Amsterdam.


Currently retired from the voice faculty of the New England Conservatory of =
Music, she has been associated with the American Institute of Musical =
Studies in Graz, Austria and the International Institute of Vocal Arts in =
Chiari, Italy.=20


Hodam trained in New York, London, and Vienna.



<color><param>9999,6666,9999</param># # #

</color>

Media Contact Only:

Marci Janas

440-775-8328

marci.janas at oberlin.edu


3/29/05



Marci Janas

Director of Conservatory Media Relations

Oberlin Conservatory of Music

39 West College Street

Oberlin, OH 44074

Tel: 440-775-8328

Fax: 440-775-5457

marci.janas at oberlin.edu

www.oberlin.edu/con








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