Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Courses
Arts & Entertainment
Courses & Events
1971: The Year that Rock Exploded
Instructor Bio: Steve Lopes, AE, BA, MA, M Ed, was an educator for 15 years prior to 30years of advocating for teachers as a Kansas-NEA organizer. He enjoys researching Rock 'n' Roll history and sharing it with Osher participants.
This course contains no sessions
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.
1971: The Year that Rock Exploded Clay County Residents
Instructor Bio: Steve Lopes, AE, BA, MA, M Ed, was an educator for 15 years prior to 30years of advocating for teachers as a Kansas-NEA organizer. He enjoys researching Rock 'n' Roll history and sharing it with Osher participants.
This course contains no sessions
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.
American Landscape Photography: Images of a Changing Reality
Instructor Bio: James Showalter has seven years of experience with historic preservation and 31 years of teaching history at the university level. One of several areas of expertise he has developed is the history of religion worldwide, and particularly the history of religion in the area that is now the United States.
This course contains no sessions
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.
American Music: A Primer
Bio: Paul Laird is Professor of Musicology at the University of Kansas, where one of his teaching specialties is music of the United States. He has published widely on such topics as Leonard Bernstein and American musical theater and won the 2021 KU Chancellor's Club Career Teaching Award. Laird has taught many Osher classes since the program's inception at KU.
February 24, 2025 to March 10, 2025, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online
Annual Midwestern Music Festivals
Thursday, March 27, 2025, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility In Person
Declaration of Independence: 250 Years Old
March 24, 2025 to April 7, 2025, Zoom Facilitated Sessions
Famous Women in History
February 26, 2025 to March 12, 2025, Claridge Court In Person
Famous Women in History Claridge Court Residents
February 26, 2025 to March 12, 2025, Claridge Court In Person
J.R.R. Tolkien's Bookshelf
J.R.R. Tolkien, the greatest fantasy writer of the 20th century, drew profound inspiration from medieval northwestern European literature for his works, "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. This course explores the ancient literary influences on Tolkien, such as "Beowulf," the Icelandic "Njal's Saga," the legend of King Arthur and Merlin, the Irish epic "The Táin," and "The Romance of Tristan and Iseult." We'll also delve into Tolkien's life, his fascination with languages, his WWI experiences, and themes like riddles, runes, vows, curses, valkyries, and quests. Familiarity with "The Hobbit" or "The Lord of the Rings" is helpful but not required, as we'll use audio excerpts and videos to understand the legends that inspired Tolkien's work.
Instructor Bio: Vic Peterson is the author of "The Berserkers" (Hawkwood 2022/Recital 2023), set in a fictional Nordic country. He worked as a business executive and now divides his time between Lawrence, Kansas, and Northport, Michigan.
April 21, 2025 to May 5, 2025, Northland Innovation Center In-Person
J.R.R. Tolkien's Bookshelf Clay County Residents
J.R.R. Tolkien, the greatest fantasy writer of the 20th century, drew profound inspiration from medieval northwestern European literature for his works, "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. This course explores the ancient literary influences on Tolkien, such as "Beowulf," the Icelandic "Njal's Saga," the legend of King Arthur and Merlin, the Irish epic "The Táin," and "The Romance of Tristan and Iseult." We'll also delve into Tolkien's life, his fascination with languages, his WWI experiences, and themes like riddles, runes, vows, curses, valkyries, and quests. Familiarity with "The Hobbit" or "The Lord of the Rings" is helpful but not required, as we'll use audio excerpts and videos to understand the legends that inspired Tolkien's work.
Instructor Bio: Vic Peterson is the author of "The Berserkers" (Hawkwood 2022/Recital 2023), set in a fictional Nordic country. He worked as a business executive and now divides his time between Lawrence, Kansas, and Northport, Michigan.
April 21, 2025 to May 5, 2025, Northland Innovation Center In-Person
More Kansas Characters: From the Real McCoy to the Sage of Emporia
February 27, 2025 to March 13, 2025, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility In Person
One Hit Wonders
Instructor Bio: Don Dagenais has been a preview speaker for the Lyric Opera for more than 20 years, and he teaches classical music and opera courses for local organizations. He enjoys studying American political history and has compiled an extensive collection of memorabilia from presidential political campaigns from 1840 to the present. He recently retired as a real estate attorney.
March 27, 2025 to April 10, 2025, McCrite Plaza at Briaracliff - In Person
One Hit Wonders
Instructor Bio: Don Dagenais has been a preview speaker for the Lyric Opera for more than 20 years, and he teaches classical music and opera courses for local organizations. He enjoys studying American political history and has compiled an extensive collection of memorabilia from presidential political campaigns from 1840 to the present. He recently retired as a real estate attorney.
March 27, 2025 to April 10, 2025, McCrite Plaza at Briarcliff
Robert Burns in 37 Poems
February 26, 2025 to March 12, 2025, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online
Significant United States First Ladies of the Modern Era
Instructor Bio: Anita Tebbe is a retired professor of the Legal Studies Department at Johnson County Community College. She earned an undergraduate degree in history, a graduate degree in education and a juris doctor degree in law. Anita is a Kansas licensed attorney and has more than 40 years at the high school and college levels.
March 24, 2025 to April 7, 2025, Northland Innovation Center In-Person
The Biblical Art of Marc Chagall
This course contains no sessions
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The Life of Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
This course contains no sessions
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The Life of Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) Brewster Place Residents
This course contains no sessions
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.
Yo-Yo Ma
Thursday, April 3, 2025, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility In Person