When Kay Cooley moved to Medford Leas, a continuing-care community on Route 70 in Medford 11 years ago, she was pleased with the variety of activities for residents. But when she became president of the residents association in 2000, she wanted to add a truly academic element to the programming.

"I'm a former English teacher, and, I guess, a believer in learning all you can," said Cooley, 80, formerly of Bridgeport, Conn.

A year later, Cooley had founded "Medford University," affectionately known as "Medford U." The "university" flourishes today, with a history of two semesters of courses each year since its founding.

Over the years, Medford University, which meets in the community's auditorium, has offered classes as diverse as biological anthropology, film studies, the history of the mystery genre, the ethics of risk, and Hemingway.

Early on, the "university" decided to open the classes to anyone in the community. Tuition is a modest $20 to $25 for five or six classes, each 90 minutes long.

"We also opted to require no textbooks because they can be very costly, and of course, the good news is that students take no tests," Cooley said. "So it's learning for its own sake, which is taken seriously by our students."

The spring semester course "Mozart, Amadeus and the Age of Enlightenment," which begins April 14, will be taught by Karl Middleman, artistic director of the Philadelphia Classical Symphony and a celebrated conductor and lecturer in the region.

"I've been to Medford Leas for concerts, and I've been privileged to entertain for the birthday of one of the residents," said Middleman, "so I know what an enlightened audience I'll be addressing. These are marvelous people who have had a chance to know and care about music."

Middleman, of Merion, is well known for mixing scholarship with showmanship. He's an inveterate storyteller who has studied the history of music.

Mozart was a natural choice for a course. "Mozart had a fascinating life, a quite cosmopolitan one, with lots of travel and cultivation. And he was so connected to his time," he said. "I count him as one of the 10 greatest musical geniuses of the world."

Middleman enjoys placing composers in their individual contexts, as he will do with Mozart at Medford U. "I think storytelling is a wonderful way to share music, and that's part of what I hope to do with this course. Stories bring a subject home in a personal way."

A composer himself, Middleman is a champion of new music. He has premiered the works of 50 composers since 2002. He is no newcomer to teaching, having served on the faculties of Arcadia University, Cabrini College, Philadelphia and Montgomery County Community Colleges, and Temple University Music Prep.

"We're proud of all our courses, but we do think this one will be quite special," Cooley said. "We hope many of our neighbors in South Jersey join us to learn about Mozart, the man and his music."

Middleman is typical of the caliber of teachers Medford University attracts.

"In the beginning, Burlington County College provided the professors, but now we've branched out to other resources as well, and many of our professors come from throughout the region," Cooley said.

Donald Riggs of Drexel University taught the mystery course; Nancy Heller from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia taught a course in the mind and behavior; Katy Henry of Temple University explored Italy through the lens of American short stories; and Karen Chambers of Rutgers taught the course in biological anthropology.

Education Spotlight

"Mozart, Amadeus and the Age of Enlightenment" with Karl Middleman will meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. April 14, 21 and 28 and May 12 and 19 in the auditorium at Medford Leas, One Medford Leas Way, Medford. Tuition is $25. Information: 609-654-3212.