TU Osher News & Notes

An incredible learning experience

1800s era church 1800s era church from Panama

Osher member Susan Fernandez has been using her time to paint a series of famous churches. The top image is the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and the bottom image is an 1800s era church from Panama.

Today would have been the last day of Osher's spring semester. I always marvel at how quickly time flies when our classes are in session. One day it’s the start of the semester and then a few blinks of the eye later, the semester is wrapping up. This spring was different. Our semester concluded just a week and a half after we started and it wasn’t clear at that time how long we’d be staying at home. One thing that is clear is that everyone has been asked to adapt. This semester has been an incredible learning experience—even if the lessons aren’t quite what we expected.

So what's next? And when? The answers to those questions are hopefully coming soon. As for Osher, we will be taking guidance from the State of Maryland, the University System of Maryland, Towson University, and what we feel will be the best and safest approach for our members. In any case, we will adapt and we will communicate often. Starting this week, we will be offering individual online lectures presented by Osher instructors. I would like to give a huge thank you to the instructors who have offered to do presentations for our members. They understand how important it is to stay connected with our members while delivering interesting content. At this point in the semester, I’m usually saying goodbye but in some ways, we’re just getting started so I hope you’ll stick around!

Stay safe and healthy,

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Tracy Jacobs

Weekly Resources

Each week, we'll be sharing online resources that may be useful to you while we are all social distancing. We've compiled all links in a Facebook Note, which we update each Thursday.

Why Smart People Believe in Coronavirus Myths

Bird Song Opera

Big Trees on TU’s Campus

Ken Burns: In the Classroom—Historical Documentaries

Baltimore Heritage: Five Minute Histories

Baltimore’s Creative Alliance

IKEA Just Released Its Famed Meatball Recipe

Osher Instructor Spotlight:
Meet Seth Kibel

Seth Kibel

This is the second in a series of interviews with some of our instructors.

Meet Seth Kibel, one of the Mid-Atlantic's premier woodwind specialists and an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Towson University. Learn more about Seth and how he's been dealing with COVID-19. MORE

Online Lectures—
Free and no sign-up necessary

Each week we will have a new lecture for you to view. For some lectures, we will have additional resources that will enhance your experience and we will also have some discussion groups that will require signing up ahead of time. The beauty of these on-demand lectures is that you can view them when you want.

Benny Goodman

The Rise of Benny Goodman with Seth Kibel

How did the child of Russian Jewish immigrants living in Chicago go from abject poverty to eminent stardom in American music by the time he was a mere 26 years old? Learn about the meteoric, and rather unlikely rise of Benjamin David Goodman and how he helped usher in a new era in American pop culture. Recordings, film clips and live performance by Seth Kibel will make this lecture swing like Benny himself!

Seth Kibel is one of the mid-Atlantic’s premier woodwind specialists, working with some of the best bands in klezmer, jazz, swing, and more. Wowing audiences on saxophone, clarinet, and flute, Seth has made a name for himself in the Washington/Baltimore region and beyond. He is the featured performer with The Alexandria Kleztet, Bay Jazz Project, Music PilgrimTrio, The Natty Beaux, and more.

Berlin Holocaust memorial

Holocaust Remembrance: Connecting Memory and Responsibility with Jon Aaron*

Jon Aaron will use archival photographs plus personal photographs and video footage from his visits to Auschwitz in Poland and to memorials in Berlin and Budapest to deepen understanding of the art and architecture of The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. He will weave into the presentation how the gradual unfolding of The Final Solution informed researchers, archivists, and spiritual leaders in the design of the museum. The thinking of survivors Elie Wiesel and Viktor Frankl will serve as a thematic thread, challenging us to honor our collective memory and to take responsibility to understand and heal the world in which we live. *Look for an announcement on how to continue the conversation live with Jon Aaron.

Jon Aaron has taught English, history, and performing arts at McDonogh School for 44 years. He has a B.A. from Boston University and M.L.A. from the Johns Hopkins University and has taught courses at the JHU Osher program as well as the Beth El Synagogue. Jon is passionate about creating conversations that provide insight into our lives and our world.

We want to hear from you!

What's the first thing you would like to do after social distancing ends? We'll share anonymous answers in next week's newsletter. Here’s what readers told us last week:

• Visit with grandchildren.

• Hug my kids and grandkids.

• Go to the grocery store. Never thought I would miss that!!

• I’d like to see my daughter and grandsons!

• Hug my friends!

• Come back to Osher, of course!

TU Osher staff

Catch up with us on Facebook

Each day this week, we've been sharing on Facebook how the Osher at Towson University staff are dealing with life under quarantine. Follow us on Facebook to see their selfies and find more helpful and fun resources.

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Towson University, 7400 York Road, Towson MD 21252

osher@towson.edu | 410-704-3535

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