Toni Morrison’s Masterworks

Course

Toni Morrison’s Masterworks

Thursday, January 21, 2027
Thursday, February 25, 2027

Toni Morrison is one of the world’s greatest novelists and prose stylists. Her treatments of race, gender, history, and above all, humanity and love in America are matched only by her ability to craft a sentence stunning enough to knock you to the ground. This course will focus on a small selection of Morrison’s most important novels, from the beginning of her career to the present, as well as some of her critical writings. Please have each selection read before our class discussion of it, if possible.

Faculty Bio

Stephanie Wells is a literature professor at College of Marin with a focus on modernism and postmodernism in American and British novels and poetry. She is the recipient of the 2025 OLLI @Berkeley Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award.

This is an In-Person + Livestreamed Course

  • Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 202/204, at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
  • Classes will also stream live simultaneously
  • Classes will not be video recorded
  • You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

  • Course starts on Thursday, Jan. 21, and ends on Thursday, Feb. 25
  • Classes meet for 6 weeks, 2 hours per session (1-3p.m.)
  • All course materials will remain in Member Dashboards through Dec. 31

Member Praise for Stephanie Wells 

Absolutely OUTSTANDING! I treasure every moment of this course. Thank you Stephanie Wells for teaching these courses and sharing your insights so freely and enthusiastically. I have learned so much in such a short time. 

An intelligent, stimulating instructor who is well versed in her subject. I would say the same for all of the courses I have taken from Stephanie Wells.

All the material selected was organized, presented and discussed thoughtfully and shared with great insight that expanded my appreciation, perspective of understanding. I found it so exciting and rewarding to both meet and revisit so many authors and explore the wide range of material, subjects and styles explored by these women.

Faculty Q&A

Toni Morrison’s Masterworks

Unfinished Journey: The Life and Music of Franz Schubert

Course

Unfinished Journey: The Life and Music of Franz Schubert

Thursday, January 28, 2027
Thursday, February 11, 2027

The brief, unhappy life of Franz Schubert reads like a cautionary tale: ignored by the musical establishment, all but unpublished
in his lifetime, Schubert lived in poverty and died of syphilis at the age of 31. End of story? No. One of the incandescent geniuses of classical music, Schubert left behind a body of work of staggering beauty and emotional depth. We’ll move through his musical world — from the intimate songs that made him the toast of Viennese drawing rooms to his towering late symphonies and chamber works. No musical training required — just curious ears and an open heart.

Faculty Bio

Ben Simon has performed internationally with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras. He has served as music director of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra for 21 years.

This is an In-Person, Livestreamed + Recorded Course

  • Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365, at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
  • Classes will also stream live simultaneously, and be recorded
  • You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

  • Course starts on Thursday, Jan. 28, and ends on Thursday, Feb. 11
  • Classes meet for 3 weeks, 2 hours per session (10 a.m.–noon)
  • All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy in Member Dashboards through Mar. 28

Member Praise for Ben Simon

Ben's very deep, well researched knowledge of the subject was impressive. His presentation of the course was well organized and insightful.

This course was amazing! Ben's enthusiasm was infectious. I learned so much.

Faculty Q&A

Unfinished Journey: The Life and Music of Franz Schubert

China in the World: The Rise of a Global Superpower

Course

China in the World: The Rise of a Global Superpower

Thursday, January 21, 2027
Thursday, February 11, 2027

This course will offer a fresh look at China, including everything from changing cultural trends to evolving security perspectives. The first part of the course will focus on the rise of China in the 20th and 21st centuries, and then we will turn our attention to the ways that China has engaged with global institutions and how it has tried to reshape them to support its own vision and grand strategy on the world stage. We will also explore the economics involved with the rise of China, from the Belt and Road Initiative to its efforts to build an alternative financial order.

Faculty Bio

Darren Zook teaches global studies and political science at UC Berkeley. His areas of interest include comparative politics, human rights, international law, cybersecurity, and the politics of art.

This is an In-Person, Livestreamed + Recorded Course

  • Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 202/204, at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
  • Classes will also stream live simultaneously, and be recorded
  • You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

  • Course starts on Thursday, Jan. 21, and ends on Thursday, Feb. 11
  • Classes meet for 4 weeks, 2 hours per session (10 a.m.–noon)
  • All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy in Member Dashboards through Mar. 28

Member Praise for Darren Zook

Dr. Zook is one of the best teachers I've ever had and I'm 80!

Darren Zook is an amazing teacher. He's a well-organized, extremely knowledgeable, and always engaging.

I have taken several classes with Darren Zook and will take several more. His scope and depth of knowledge is extraordinary. And he is able to communicate it effectively and effortlessly. 

Faculty Q&A

China in the World: The Rise of a Global Superpower

Entering (Demystifying) the Art Matrix

Course

Entering (Demystifying) the Art Matrix

Thursday, January 21, 2027
Thursday, February 11, 2027

The realm of contemporary art is vibrant and inspiring, but often equally as opaque and confounding. this four-week course will offer art historical, social and biographical entry points to demystify contemporary art, providing different ways of reading, seeing, and talking about contemporary art. Along with slide lecture and classroom discussion, the course offers firsthand engagement with BAMPFA’s MATRIX 50 exhibition — which surveys a decades of new art — including works that represent major art trends, strategic approaches, aesthetic pleasures, and thorny dialogues.

Faculty Bio

Glen Helfand is an Oakland-based writer, critic, and independent curator. His writing has been published in art and general interest publications. He is a professor in the Graduate Fine Arts program at California College of the Arts.

This is an In-Person-Only Course

Schedule Highlights

  • Course starts on Thursday, Jan. 21, and ends on Thursday, Feb. 11
  • Classes meet for 4 weeks, 2 hours per session (1–3 p.m.)
  • All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy in Member Dashboards through Mar. 28
Entering (Demystifying) the Art Matrix

Guided Autobiography, II

Course

Guided Autobiography, II

Thursday, January 21, 2027
Thursday, February 11, 2027

Guided Autobiography is a certified process of writing about your life. It is topic based rather than chronology based. The process emphasizes two significant things: storytelling and community building. There will be four sessions the topics of which are The First Time, Risks I Have Taken, Cultural Heritage, and Food and Drink. Note: This course offers different topics than Guided Autobiography from fall 2026. It is not necessary to have taken that course to fully experience this one.

Faculty Bio

Sara Orem has taught for OLLI @Berkeley for 10 years. Her background and academic study is in positive psychology, and the many ways we can enhance positive emotions to live a more satisfying and fulfilling life.

This is an In-Person-Only Course

Schedule Highlights

  • Course starts on Thursday, Jan. 21, and ends on Thursday, Feb. 11
  • Classes meet for 4 weeks, 2.5 hours per session (9:30 a.m.–noon)
  • All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy in Member Dashboards through Mar. 28

Member Praise for Sara Orem 

"Sara is a marvelous instructor! So happy I took this class!"

"Sara gave me the tools to capture the important things in my life and to express them to the important people in my life. A treasured gift indeed. Thank you, Sara!"

I found this course to bring many emotions to the surface in my 83-year old body. Tears flowed liberally. Life is so short."

Guided Autobiography, II

Cairo: From Pharaonic Times to the Present

Course

Cairo: From Pharaonic Times to the Present

Wednesday, February 17, 2027
Wednesday, March 10, 2027

Although Cairo was formally founded in 969 AD, its territories were occupied with settlements as ancient as 6,000 years BC. The fundamentals of the architectural language of the Western world were cast here, and many buildings types became adopted for millennia. With the fall of the Egyptian civilization, its fate was colonial for centuries thereafter while retaining an enormous influence on architecture. Today, Cairo is a megalopolis with notable architectural contributions of international renown. This class will survey the evolution of the most revered cities in history.

Faculty Bio 

Pierluigi Serraino, Ph.D., FAIA is the author of Modernism Rediscovered. His latest book is The Modern Garden: The Outdoor Architecture of Mid-century America.

This is a Livestreamed + Recorded Course

  • Classes will stream live on the scheduled day and time 
  • Classes will also be video recorded
  • You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

  • Course starts on Wednesday, Feb. 17, and ends on Wednesday, Mar. 10
  • Classes meet for 4 weeks, 1.5 hours per session (10:30a.m.–noon)
  • All course materials remain in Member Dashboards through Mar. 28

 Member Praise for Pierluigi Serraino

Pierluigi is a wonderful instructor--I always learn something new from him, as well as something to think about. He always opens my eyes.

Course materials, organization, Pierluigi's deep knowledge of the specific area and ability to fit it into larger context of regional traditions and international design trends, and receptivity to participant questions & observations ... all great! Highly recommend!

Faculty Q&A

Cairo: From Pharaonic Times to the Present

Winter Registration Opens

Special Event

Winter Registration Opens

Monday, October 12, 2026

Winter registration opens on Monday, October 12, at 9 AM. Many classes — in person in downtown Berkeley and online — start the week of January 19 with more launching through mid-February. Deep dives into history, politics, music, film, literature and more are all on tap. Flip through our winter brochure to learn more.

A gentle nudge: If you're hoping to snag a spot in one of our small writing or photography workshops, we strongly encourage you to register right away. These courses have limited spots, and fill up quickly. Sometimes within a day or two.

Not an OLLI member yet? Learn about all the benefits of membership — access to courses, speaker events, field trips, town halls, socials, and more — as well as our special offer for new members and our fee assistance program.

Winter Registration Opens

Country Music Road Trip 1950-1980

Course

Country Music Road Trip 1950-1980

Wednesday, January 20, 2027
Wednesday, March 3, 2027

Explore key movements that contributed to the explosive growth of country music as an industry and art form. Focusing on Nashville, California, and Texas, this course will take us on a regional, chronological, and musical journey through the eras and places that have made country music a huge part of 20th-century American culture. The final class will feature an overview of the country song and an in-depth musical analysis of why country music is so emotional.

Faculty Bio

Pete Elman is a musician, performer, composer, studio musician, and producer of 30 albums. He has created 14 different classes on popular music for OLLI.

This is an In-Person, Livestreamed + Recorded Course

Schedule Highlights

  • Course starts on Wednesday, Jan. 20, and ends on Wednesday, Mar. 3
  • Classes meet for 6 weeks, 2 hours per session (1–3 p.m.)
  • There is no class on Feb. 17
  • All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy in Member Dashboards through Mar. 28

Member Praise for Pete Elman

Another wonderful class from Pete! Once again, he added to my appreciation and understanding of the music and contributions from artists I already have enjoyed and admired for so long.

I gained so much appreciation for the musicians and their music than I expected to. Very, very enjoyable. I'll take any course Pete Elman offers.

Faculty Q&A

Country Music Road Trip 1950-1980
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