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35-663: The Oberlin Collegiate Institute was built on 500 acres (2.0 km) of land, founded in 1833 and became Oberlin College in 1850. In 1867, two years after the Oberlin Conservatory's founding in 1865, the previously separate Oberlin Conservatory became incorporated with the college on a similar grant. In tandem, the administration claimed that "Oberlin is peculiar in that which is good," notable as

70-546: A Bachelor of Arts . Admission is based primarily on an extremely competitive audition; over 1,400 musicians from around the world apply for a freshman class of around 120. The conservatory was previously housed in Warner Hall, a large stone building where the King Building now stands. It now occupies four interconnected buildings on the south side of Tappan Square. The original structure of three big white buildings

105-463: A bachelor of science degree program at Wilberforce University , a historically black college in Ohio. Still became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He conducted the university band, learned to play various instruments, and started to compose and to do orchestrations. He left Wilberforce without graduating. Upon receiving a small amount of money left to him by his father, he began studying at

140-405: A football scholarship. At Florida A&M in 1962, Logan heard Igor Stravinsky 's Firebird Suite for the first time. This initial exposure to the twelve-tone technique led Logan to undertake a path leading to a career as a composer. He earned a master's degree in music in 1964 from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and was awarded a Ph.D. in music theory and composition in 1968 from

175-545: A major opera company, and have an opera performed on national television. The papers of Still and his second wife, the librettist and writer Verna Arvey , are currently held by the University of Arkansas. William Grant Still Jr. was born on May 11, 1895, in Woodville, Mississippi . He was the son of two teachers, Carrie Lena Fambro Still Shepperson (1872–1927) and William Grant Still Sr. (1871–1895). His father

210-741: A new home for the Jazz Studies, Music History, and Music Theory departments. Kohl is connected to Robertson by a third-floor enclosed bridge, which also contains the Sky Bar, named for the iconic Cleveland jazz club that closed in 1954. The Robertson Building houses around 150 practice rooms, most with windows. In addition, the Otto B. Schoepfle Vocal Arts Center, Career Resource Center, Kulas Organ Center, reed-making rooms, computer labs, faculty studios, and staff offices are located here. Oberlin has been an all-Steinway school since 1877, and contains one of

245-540: A student of George Whitefield Chadwick and then Edgard Varèse . Because of his close association and collaboration with prominent African-American literary and cultural figures, Still is considered to be part of the Harlem Renaissance . Often referred to as the "Dean of Afro-American Composers," Still was the first American composer to have an opera produced by the New York City Opera . He

280-476: A work by an African American was performed by a major orchestra. By the end of World War II, the piece had been performed in orchestras located in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Berlin, Paris, and London. During this time, the symphony was arguably the most popular of any composed by an American so far. As a result of a close professional relationship with Hanson; many of Still's compositions were performed for

315-433: Is also the oldest continuously operating coeducational conservatory, since its incorporation with Oberlin College, the first coeducational college . The college and conservatory were listed as a National Historic Landmark on December 21, 1965, for its significance in social progress. Due to the conservatory's affiliation with Elisha Gray , inventor of the electromechanical oscillator , and Thaddeus Cahill , inventor of

350-510: Is asking for a special day: 'Here's the day for black American composers.' That's kind of demeaning. But it's better than nothing". On his Oberlin College profile, Logan described jazz as "our classical music" and said that it "belongs here just as much as Americans belong on this soil." He was selected for a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1991. A resident of Oberlin, Ohio , Logan died in Cleveland at age 69 on June 15, 2010, after suffering

385-402: Is known primarily for his first symphony, Afro-American Symphony (1930), which was, until 1950, the most widely performed symphony composed by an American. Still was able to become a leading figure in the field of American classical music as the first African-American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra , have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra, have an opera performed by

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420-492: The Oberlin Conservatory of Music . Still worked for the school assisting the janitor, along with a few other small jobs outside of the school, yet still struggled financially. When Professor Lehmann asked Still why he wasn't studying composition, Still told him honestly that he couldn't afford to, leading to George Whitfield Andrews agreeing to teach him composition without charge. He also studied privately with

455-462: The University of Iowa . After graduating from college, Logan served on the faculties of Ball State University , Florida A&M University and Western Illinois University , before joining the faculty of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1973, where he eventually become chairman of the jazz studies department and professor of African-American music . When Logan first arrived at Oberlin, jazz

490-464: The pit orchestra for Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake 's musical, Shuffle Along and another pit with Sophie Tucker , Artie Shaw , and Paul Whiteman . Under Henderson, he joined Henry Pace 's Pace Phonograph Company, known as Black Swan Records . Later in the 1920s, Still served as the arranger of Yamekraw , a "Negro Rhapsody", composed by the Harlem stride pianist James P. Johnson . In

525-474: The telharmonium , Oberlin Conservatory plays a role in the origins of electronic music . The TIMARA (Technology In Music And Related Arts) program was the world's first conservatory program in this field, established in 1967. Oberlin Conservatory was the recipient of the 2009 National Medal of Arts , the highest award given by the United States government to artists and arts patrons in recognition of

560-474: The 1930s, Still worked as an arranger of popular music, composing works for popular NBC Radio broadcasts like Willard Robison 's Deep River Hour and Paul Whiteman's Old Gold Show. Still's first major orchestral composition, Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American" , was performed in 1931 by the Rochester Philharmonic , conducted by Howard Hanson . It was the first time the complete score of

595-513: The 1989 "Runagate, Runagate" based on a poem by Robert Hayden about a fugitive slave and "Doxology Opera: The Doxy Canticles" in 2001 which features a libretto by Paul Carter Harrison . Logan's music has been recorded on Orion Records and other labels. Logan believed that being described as a "black composer" was a two-edged sword . He would have preferred music by African-American composers to simply be performed alongside works by other composers. Regarding that distinction, he remarked: "No one

630-515: The Conservatory of Music pursue a degree in each division in the double-degree program. These programs are organized into four departments: The Oberlin Jazz Ensemble, composed of jazz as well as classical performance majors, is a component in a four-year curriculum in jazz studies, leading to a bachelor of music degree with a concentration in performance, composition, or both. Wendell Logan , Professor of African-American Music and Chair of

665-906: The Oberlin Jazz Studies Program, founded the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble in 1973. Notable members of the Ensemble include: Faculty Alumni See also William Grant Still William Grant Still Jr. (May 11, 1895 – December 3, 1978) was an American composer of nearly two hundred works, including five symphonies , four ballets, nine operas, over thirty choral works , art songs , chamber music , and solo works. Born in Mississippi and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas , Still attended Wilberforce University and Oberlin Conservatory of Music as

700-665: The United States Navy to serve in World War I in 1918, and eventually moved to Harlem after the war, where he continued to work for Handy. During this time, Still was involved with many cultural figures of the Harlem Renaissance including the likes of Langston Hughes , Alain Locke , Arna Bontemps , and Countee Cullen . He recorded with Fletcher Henderson 's Dance Orchestra in 1921, and later played in

735-612: The boy greatly enjoyed. The two attended a number of performances by musicians on tour. His maternal grandmother Anne Fambro sang African-American spirituals to him. Still started violin lessons in Little Rock at the age of 15. He taught himself to play the clarinet , saxophone, oboe , double bass, cello and viola , and showed a great interest in music. At 16 years old, he graduated as class valedictorian from M. W. Gibbs High School in Little Rock in 1911. His mother wanted him to go to medical school, so Still pursued

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770-629: The ceremony because interracial marriage was illegal in California. They had a daughter, Judith Anne, and a son, Duncan. Still's granddaughter is journalist Celeste Headlee , a daughter of Judith Anne. On December 1, 1976, his home was designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #169. It is located at 1262 Victoria Avenue in Oxford Square, Los Angeles . In 1916, Still worked in Memphis for W.C. Handy 's band. He then joined

805-543: The first college and first conservatory in the United States to regularly admit African-American students. Oberlin College's role as an educator of African-American students prior to the Civil War and thereafter is historically significant. Notable is the graduation of William Grant Still , a student who widely became regarded as the "dean of African-American composers." These efforts have helped Oberlin remain committed to its values of freedom, social justice, and service. It

840-426: The first opera by an African-American composer to be performed on national television. Still composed almost 200 works, including nine operas, five symphonies, four ballets, plus art songs, chamber music, and works for solo instruments. He composed more than thirty choral works. Many of his works are believed to be lost. Wendell Logan Wendell Morris Logan (November 24, 1940 – June 15, 2010),

875-792: The first time in Rochester. In 1934, Still moved to Los Angeles after receiving his first Guggenheim Fellowship , allowing him to start work on the first of his nine operas, Blue Steel . Two years later, Still conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl, the first African American to conduct a major American orchestra in a performance of his own works. Still arranged music for films such as Pennies from Heaven , starring Bing Crosby and Madge Evans , and Lost Horizon , starring Ronald Colman , Jane Wyatt and Sam Jaffe ,

910-474: The largest collections of Steinway & Sons pianos, in the world, consisting over 240 pianos. Oberlin Conservatory offers private study in 31 applied areas and undergraduate majors, including a double major in piano performance and vocal accompanying. It offers the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, a performance diploma, and an artist diploma. Students accepted to both the College of Arts and Sciences and

945-404: The latter of which, he arranged the music of Dimitri Tiomkin . Still was also hired to arrange music for the 1943 film Stormy Weather , but left because " Twentieth-Century Fox 'degraded colored people.'" For the 1939 New York World's Fair , Still composed Song of a City for the exhibit "Democracity," which played continuously during the fair's run. Despite writing music for the fair, he

980-474: The modern French composer Edgard Varèse and the American composer George Whitefield Chadwick . On October 4, 1915, Still married Grace Bundy, whom he had met while they were both at Wilberforce. They had a son, William III, and three daughters, Gail, June, and Caroline. They separated in 1932 and divorced February 6, 1939. On February 8, 1939, he married pianist Verna Arvey , driving to Tijuana for

1015-986: The negative reviews it received. Still was also the first African American to conduct a major orchestra in the Deep South , doing so in 1955 where he conducted the New Orleans Philharmonic Orchestra. Still's works were performed internationally by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra , the London Symphony Orchestra , the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra , and the BBC Orchestra . He died in Los Angeles in 1978. Three years after his death, A Bayou Legend became

1050-403: The wealth and depth of their creative expressions. The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is the only professional music school to be so honored by President Barack Obama. Due to the conservatory's affiliation with Oberlin College, students may either enter the conservatory only or Oberlin's five year Double-Degree program, in which the student will complete both a Bachelor of Music degree as well as

1085-442: Was a partner in a grocery store and performed as a local bandleader. William Grant Still Sr. died when his infant son was three months old. Still's mother moved with him to Little Rock, Arkansas , where she taught high school English. She met, and in 1904 married, Charles B. Shepperson, who nurtured his stepson William's musical interests by taking him to operettas and buying Red Seal recordings of classical music, which

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1120-463: Was an American jazz and concert music composer who created the jazz department at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music . Wendell Logan was born in Thomson, Georgia on November 24, 1940. His first musical studies were with his father, an amateur alto saxophonist . He graduated with a bachelor's degree in music in 1962 from the historically black Florida A&M University , which he had attended on

1155-601: Was designed by the Japanese-American architect Minoru Yamasaki in 1963, which closely resembles Yamasaki's later design of the World Trade Center in New York City . A vertical expansion was completed in 2010, improving the buildings acoustics and creating a double height recital room. In 2010, The Bertram and Judith Kohl Building, designed by architectural firm DLR Group , opened to provide

1190-586: Was exclusively an extracurricular activity. Dr. Logan began teaching jazz music shortly after joining Oberlin, forming the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble in 1973. Logan developed a curriculum for a jazz major in 1989, and by 1991 he helped modify Oberlin's admission standards to allow students to be selected for admission to the conservatory based on their talent as jazz performers. In addition to playing soprano saxophone and trumpet , Logan composed both jazz and concert music. Among his concert works are

1225-422: Was unable to attend the fair without police protection except on "Negro Day" . In 1949, his opera Troubled Island about Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Haiti, was performed by the New York City Opera a decade after its original composition. It was the first opera by an American to be performed by the company and the first by an African American to be performed by a major company. Still was, however, upset by

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