Oberlin Conservatory

Recipient of the 2009 National Medal of Arts, Oberlin Conservatory of Music is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in America and is recognized as one of the foremost professional training institutions in the world. The Conservatory is also one of the few major music schools in the U.S. that shares its campus with a top-ranked liberal arts institution, Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences, and is devoted primarily to the education of undergraduate musicians.

The Conservatory prepares talented, intellectually gifted students for professional careers in music. Most Conservatory students pursue the Bachelor of Music degree, majoring in one or more of the 44 areas of study offered. Our majors encompass instrumental and vocal performance, historical performance, jazz studies, composition, Technology in Music and Related Arts (TIMARA), Recording Arts and Production, and musicology. One-third of the 600 students in the Conservatory also pursue an additional major in the College as part of Oberlin's five-year Double Degree Program, or they can choose to add a minor in any of Oberlin's academic, musical, or interdisciplinary programs.

A unique feature of Oberlin is the opportunity for students to chart their own course during Winter Term, a special session in the academic year that takes place between the fall and spring semesters during the month of January. These projects focus on a wide variety of experiences such as developing new skills, studying abroad in another country, researching a topic related to one's major, performing, or preparing for a future career.

The Conservatory's educational training is designed to foster deep understanding and insight into the arts, as well as the knowledge, skills, and technical competence essential for professional musicians. To this end, members of the Conservatory's internationally distinguished faculty are invested in teaching, mentorship, and professional performance. Central to our mission are the more than 500 performances and events Oberlin produces each year by Conservatory students and faculty, as well as by guest artists.

International students are an integral part of Oberlin's campus community, comprising between 10 to 15% of the combined College and Conservatory student population of approximately 3,000 students. Oberlin boasts resources that support and celebrate international cultures and identities. As a residential campus, all students live and dine with one another and may choose to reside in one of Oberlin's diverse housing options that support living communities based on language, identity, culture, and shared interests. Oberlin's Cooper International Learning Center supports the study of world languages while exploring cultures and considering new perspectives. A hub for students from diverse backgrounds, the Multicultural Resource Commons provides spaces for all to find belonging on campus, connecting with many of Oberlin's 175+ student organizations.

The effectiveness of an Oberlin Conservatory education can be measured by the success of its students and graduates. Among recent awards won by Conservatory students and alumni are the Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition grand prize, Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition first prize, Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition grand prize, Watson Fellowships, Marshall Scholarships, Fulbright Scholarships, and Annenberg Arts Fund Grants, as well as the Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Fellowship . The Conservatory's Professional Development Office supports students through grants, funds, workshops, guest lectures, and classes in collaboration with the campus-wide Career Exploration and Development Office. Conservatory alumni have attained national and international stature as performers, conductors, composers, scholars, educators, and arts administrators.

Oberlin is committed to diversity and access and is fortunate to be one of a few American schools to offer need-based financial aid to international applicants. Oberlin offers a $10,000 merit scholarship to every admitted student that enrolls, with additional funds available based upon the level of the audition or interview for Conservatory applicants. Oberlin is dedicated to expanding international student access with academic and financial support through a new partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Global Foundation for the Performing Arts (GFPA). With these resources, and in collaboration with our International Student and Scholar Services Office, Oberlin supports students throughout the application process to find their place amongst our amazing student body.

Learn more at www.oberlin.edu.