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UW Classics Alumnus Performs Original Musical Odyssey in All 50 US States
UW Classics Alumnus Performs Original Musical Odyssey in All 50 US States
- Jun. 14, 2024

Chicago-based Class of ’98 graduate Joe Goodkin has put his BA in classics from the UW to use in a both novel and traditional way, composing and performing two one-man bardic folk opera retellings of Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad (The Blues of Achilles).
Over two decades, he has done nearly 500 combined performances of these original song cycles as a guest of such institutions as Harvard, Stanford, Oxford (UK), Cambridge (UK), UC–Berkeley, and many, many more (including, of course, his alma mater itself).
In 2023, Joe achieved the milestone of performing his Odyssey in all 50 U.S. states with a performance at Oklahoma State University.
He work has been recognized by awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, as well as supported by grants from the Society for Classical Studies.
Find more information at joesodyssey.com, thebluesofachilles.com, and joegoodkin.com.
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Christine Scott Thomson MS’20 and Gregory Thomson are excited to reconnect with graduate school friends and learn about Iceland’s university and city planning connections.
Dr. Jim Sernoe BA’86, MA’89 has been promoted to full professor at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was also honored with his 30-year service pin this spring.
Laurie Iudin-Nelson PhD’97 (Slavic languages and literatures) is professor emerita of Russian studies at Luther College. Following retirement, she earned the MDiv degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary (Dubuque, Iowa) and was ordained as Minist...
Congrats to Chelsea Blair ’12 on celebrating her one-year wedding anniversary to Justin Blair ’14! The couple lives in Los Angeles, but they got married in Madison on a night full of incredible people, music, food, and laughter. They even jumped i...
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William Walter Beyer passed away in Midlothian, VA, on January 20. 2026. William studied history as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and his studies were focused on economic history, finance, and international economics. William served as a commissioned Fo...
Christine Scott Thomson MS’20 and Gregory Thomson are excited to reconnect with graduate school friends and learn about Iceland’s university and city planning connections.
Dr. Jim Sernoe BA’86, MA’89 has been promoted to full professor at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was also honored with his 30-year service pin this spring.
Laurie Iudin-Nelson PhD’97 (Slavic languages and literatures) is professor emerita of Russian studies at Luther College. Following retirement, she earned the MDiv degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary (Dubuque, Iowa) and was ordained as Minist...
Congrats to Chelsea Blair ’12 on celebrating her one-year wedding anniversary to Justin Blair ’14! The couple lives in Los Angeles, but they got married in Madison on a night full of incredible people, music, food, and laughter. They even jumped i...
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