Boston Conservatory at Berklee is a performing arts conservatory offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, dance, theatre, and musical theatre. Founded in 1867 as the Boston Conservatory of Music, it merged with Berklee College of Music in 2016 to form a combined institution that spans both contemporary and classical performing arts. The Conservatory shares Berklee's Boston campus but operates its own admissions, faculty, and degree programs.
Here is the Boston Conservatory Orchestra performing Alexander Rahbari's "Persian Mysticism Around G" with Silkroad, from the Berklee College of Music YouTube channel:
Notable Alumni
Boston Conservatory graduates have appeared on Broadway, led major orchestras, and built careers across opera, television, and film:
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Chad Kimball - Stage actor and Tony Award nominee. Kimball graduated from Boston Conservatory and originated the role of Huey Calhoun in the Broadway musical Memphis (2009), earning a 2010 Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Memphis won four Tony Awards including Best Musical. He later joined the original Broadway cast of Come From Away (2017), which won the Tony for Best Direction. The filmed production of Memphis: Direct from Broadway aired on PBS Great Performances in February 2012, capturing the original cast live at the Shubert Theatre.
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Constantine Maroulis - Actor and rock singer. Maroulis earned a BFA in Music Theater from Boston Conservatory before becoming a finalist on the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. He received a 2009 Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for originating the role of Drew in Rock of Ages on Broadway. He also starred in the Broadway national tour of Rent as Roger Davis and led the Broadway revival of Jekyll and Hyde.
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Laura Dreyfuss - Actress and singer. Dreyfuss earned a BFA in musical theatre from Boston Conservatory. She originated the role of Zoe Murphy in the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen (2016), which won the Tony Award for Best Musical. She also appeared on Fox's Glee as Madison McCarthy and on Netflix's The Politician as McAfee Westbrook. Here she performs "Only Us" with Ben Platt from the Dear Evan Hansen YouTube channel:
- Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (1954-2006) - One of the most celebrated mezzo-sopranos of her generation. Hunt Lieberson studied at Boston Conservatory early in her career. She became internationally renowned for her interpretations of Handel and Bach, performing at Glyndebourne, the Metropolitan Opera, and with major orchestras worldwide. Her recording of Handel's Theodora with William Christie at Glyndebourne is considered a landmark. Here she sings "Ombra mai fu" from Handel's Serse with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment:
- Jonathon Heyward - Conductor and Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Heyward is a Boston Conservatory alumnus who began his musical training as a cellist. In 2022, he was named the BSO's 13th Music Director, becoming the youngest and first American-born person of mixed heritage to hold the title. In October 2025, the BSO announced a three-year contract extension through the 2030-31 season. He also serves as Music Director of the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center. Here he discusses the 2025 Festival Orchestra season from the Lincoln Center YouTube channel:
- Nick Adams - Broadway actor. Adams graduated from Boston Conservatory and has appeared in Broadway productions including Priscilla Queen of the Desert, La Cage aux Folles, Chicago, and A Chorus Line. He received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for his work in La Cage aux Folles at Encores! at New York City Center.
- Erin Davie - Actress and singer. Davie earned a BFA in musical theatre from Boston Conservatory. She made her Broadway debut in Grey Gardens (2006) as young Edie Beale, winning a Theater World Award. She also appeared in the Broadway revivals of Side Show and Bright Star, and in the filmed production of Diana: The Musical on Netflix (2021).
- Shoba Narayan - Broadway actress. Narayan graduated from Boston Conservatory with a BFA in musical theatre in 2012. She has performed the role of Princess Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin on Broadway and appeared in the national tour of Hamilton. She has been recognized for her advocacy of South Asian representation in theater.
Programs
Boston Conservatory at Berklee offers degrees across three main divisions:
Music Division
- Bachelor of Music (MM): Performance degrees in orchestral instruments, piano, voice, and composition
- Master of Music (MM): Graduate performance degrees in all instrumental and vocal areas
- Graduate Performance Diploma (GPD): Non-degree advanced performance program
- Artist Diploma (AD): For performers at a pre-professional level seeking intensive training
- Professional Studies Certificate (PSC): Short-term advanced study program
The music division focuses on classical performance, opera, chamber music, and contemporary classical composition. Students have access to Berklee's recording studios and production facilities for cross-disciplinary projects.
Dance Division
- BFA in Dance: Contemporary dance, ballet, and improvisation with performance opportunities throughout the year
- MFA in Dance: Two-year graduate program for advanced dancers and choreographers
Theatre Division
- BFA in Musical Theatre: Triple-threat training in singing, acting, and dance
- BFA in Theatre: Acting and theatrical performance
- MFA in Musical Theatre: Two-year graduate program (note: the second year includes summer, fall, and spring semesters, making it more expensive than the first year)
Tuition and Costs (2026-2027)
For the 2026-2027 academic year, Berklee's Board of Trustees approved a 3% increase for the Conservatory:
- Undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees: $57,620 per year ($55,120 tuition + $2,500 fees)
- Graduate tuition and mandatory fees: Varies by program. MM and MFA programs are $57,620 per year. GPD, AD, and PSC programs are $35,880 per year ($33,380 tuition + $2,500 fees)
- On-campus housing with full meal plan: $21,300 per year
- Health insurance (waivable with proof of comparable coverage): $2,577 per year
- Total estimated cost of attendance (undergraduate, on-campus): $87,817 per year
The Conservatory's tuition is approximately $2,000 higher per year than Berklee College of Music's undergraduate tuition, reflecting the smaller class sizes and individualized instruction inherent to conservatory training.
Audition and Admission Process
Admission to Boston Conservatory at Berklee requires a live or recorded audition (or portfolio for composition applicants). The audition process is highly competitive, with acceptance rates typically below 30% across all divisions.
- Music applicants: Must prepare a classical audition repertoire specific to their instrument or voice type. Prescreening recordings may be required before a live audition is offered.
- Dance applicants: Must attend a live audition featuring ballet technique, contemporary technique, and improvisation. A solo performance may also be required.
- Theatre and musical theatre applicants: Must prepare monologues and songs, with musical theatre applicants also completing a dance call.
The Conservatory does not require SAT or ACT scores. Application deadlines typically fall in December for priority consideration.
Relationship with Berklee College of Music
Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music are separate divisions within the same institution. Students at the Conservatory can take selected courses at Berklee College (and vice versa), particularly in music technology, production, and music business. Cross-enrollment allows classical performers to gain production skills and contemporary musicians to study classical technique. However, the two schools maintain separate admissions processes, degree requirements, and faculty.
Who Should Apply
Boston Conservatory at Berklee is the right choice for students seeking rigorous classical conservatory training in music, dance, or theatre at a professional level. The school is particularly strong for classical instrumentalists, opera singers, and musical theatre performers. If your goal is contemporary music (jazz, pop, rock, electronic), you should apply to Berklee College of Music instead. The combined institution lets students in both divisions access resources from the other, but the training philosophies and degree paths are distinct.
Related Resources
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate streaming revenue for classical recordings and performances
- Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - Revenue strategies including classical performance income
- Berklee College of Music - Berklee's contemporary music division for comparison
- Music Scholarships Directory - Find scholarships to help fund conservatory education
- Boston Conservatory at Berklee Official Website - Current audition requirements, program details, and admission info
Similar Schools
- Berklee College of Music - The contemporary music division of the same institution, for comparison
- New England Conservatory - Another Boston-based conservatory focused on classical and contemporary performance
- Cincinnati College-Conservatory - A leading US conservatory with strong musical theatre and classical programs
- Manhattan School of Music - A major American conservatory with classical performance and musical theatre training
- Oberlin Conservatory - A liberal arts conservatory combining classical training with academic breadth
