The Conservatorio di Milano (officially Conservatorio di Musica Giuseppe Verdi) is a public music conservatory in Milan, Italy, founded in 1807 by royal decree under Napoleonic rule. It is the largest music conservatory in Italy and one of the oldest in Europe, offering bachelor's and master's degrees across classical, opera, composition, and jazz disciplines.
How the Conservatorio di Milano Works
The conservatory operates under the Italian AFAM (Alta Formazione Artistica e Musicale) system, aligned with the European Bologna framework:
- Triennio (Bachelor): 3 years, 180 ECTS credits. Open to students with a secondary school diploma who pass the entrance exam.
- Biennio (Master): 2 years, 120 ECTS credits. Requires a bachelor's degree in music or equivalent.
- Specialized biennio programs: 2 years in specific disciplines like traditional music, baroque performance, and more.
Admission is by competitive entrance exam (esame di ammissione). Each discipline publishes its own exam requirements and repertoire lists. The school accepts both Italian and international students. EU students pay regulated Italian conservatory tuition fees, which are income-based and typically range from about 140 to 2,000 euros per year depending on family income. Non-EU students pay slightly higher fees but still far less than private institutions.
The conservatory is located in the historic former convent of Santa Maria della Passione, near the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in central Milan. It houses over 200 classrooms, multiple concert halls, a library with more than 500,000 items, and recording studios.
Programs Offered
The conservatory offers training across a broad range of musical disciplines:
- Classical performance: All orchestral instruments, piano, organ, harp, guitar, accordion
- Opera and vocal studies: Singing, vocal chamber music
- Composition: Classical, electronic, and film composition
- Conducting: Orchestral and choral
- Jazz: Performance, composition, and arranging
- Early music: Baroque violin, baroque cello, historical keyboards, lute
- Electronic music: Sound design, electroacoustic composition
- Music education: Pedagogical training
- Traditional music: Including non-Western instruments like tabla
Audition Requirements
Admission is by competitive entrance exam (esame di ammissione). Each discipline publishes its own exam requirements and repertoire lists annually on the conservatory's website. For the triennio (bachelor) in piano, a typical program includes:
- A Bach prelude and fugue or equivalent Baroque work
- A Beethoven sonata (usually at least Op. 10 or higher)
- A substantial Romantic-era work (Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, or Brahms)
- A 20th-century or contemporary piece
- A music theory, ear training, and sight-reading test
The biennio (master) requires a more advanced program, typically 30 to 45 minutes, plus an interview. International students must demonstrate Italian language proficiency sufficient to follow instruction, as all courses are taught in Italian. The school holds an annual Open Day (the 2026 edition was January 31, 2026) where prospective students can visit the campus, meet faculty, and attend open rehearsals. The conservatory posts Open Day videos and orchestra concert recordings on its YouTube channel.
School Video: Orchestra Sinfonica del Conservatorio
The conservatory's Orchestra Sinfonica del Conservatorio (OSCoM) performs regularly in the Sala Verdi, the school's main concert hall. The orchestra is directed by faculty conductors and visiting maestros, and serves as the primary ensemble for students in the orchestral performance program. The school's YouTube channel features recordings of these concerts, including symphonic programs conducted by Michele Mariotti and other faculty:
Real-World Example
An Italian student applying for the triennio in piano in 2026 would register through the conservatory's online portal. The entrance exam typically includes a performance of a program lasting 20-30 minutes (Bach, Beethoven, a Romantic work, and a 20th-century piece), plus a music theory and ear training test. If admitted, a student from a middle-income family might pay around 800 euros per year. Over three years, the total tuition comes to approximately 2,400 euros.
Compare that to a student at DePaul University School of Music in Chicago, who pays $50,403 per year (2026-2027 rate). The Milan conservatory offers comparable classical training at roughly 2% of the cost, though admission is competitive and instruction is in Italian.
Notable Alumni
The Conservatorio di Milano has trained many prominent musicians over its 200-plus year history. The school's alumni include some of the most recorded conductors and pianists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Maurizio Pollini (piano)
Pollini studied piano at the conservatory under Carlo Lonati and later Carlo Vidusso. He won the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1960 at age 18, launching a career that spanned over six decades. He was widely considered one of the greatest interpreters of Beethoven, Brahms, and Chopin of his generation. Pollini died in March 2024 at age 82. Here he performs Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" with the Sinfonica de Galicia, a performance with over 5.8 million views on YouTube:
Riccardo Muti (conducting)
Muti studied piano and composition at the conservatory, graduating in the 1960s, and later studied conducting at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory and the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He served as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 2010 to 2023, the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1980 to 1992, and the Teatro alla Scala from 1986 to 2005. He has recorded over 150 albums. Here he conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, a performance with over 55 million views on the CSO's YouTube channel:
Claudio Abbado (conducting)
Abbado studied at the conservatory and later at the Vienna Music Academy. He served as music director of La Scala (1968 to 1986), the London Symphony Orchestra (1979 to 1987), the Vienna State Opera (1986 to 1991), and the Berlin Philharmonic (1989 to 2002). In 2003 he founded the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Abbado died in January 2014 at age 80. Here he conducts Mahler's Symphony No. 5 with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra in 2004, a performance with over 5.8 million views:
Other Notable Alumni
- Giacomo Puccini (composition) - Composer of La Boheme, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly
- Arturo Toscanini (conducting) - One of the most acclaimed conductors of the early 20th century, music director of La Scala and the NBC Symphony Orchestra
- Bruno Bettinelli (composition) - Italian composer and teacher
- Fiorenzo Carpi (composition) - Composer known for film scores including Fellini's The Nights of Cabiria
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
If you want to study classical music, opera, or composition in Europe at a public institution with deep historical roots, the Conservatorio di Milano is one of the best options. The income-based tuition model means you pay according to what your family can afford. The school's location in Milan gives you access to La Scala, one of the world's most famous opera houses, plus a thriving contemporary music scene.
You need to speak Italian to succeed here. Start learning the language before applying. Also, check the specific entrance exam requirements for your instrument well in advance, as repertoire lists are published annually and can change. The school's Open Day (held annually in late January) is the best way to visit the campus and meet faculty before applying.
Compare programs in our music schools directory, or search for scholarships in our music scholarships directory. For self-study alternatives, read our guide on how to learn music theory without formal training.
Related Resources
- Music Schools Directory - Browse music schools worldwide
- Music Scholarships Directory - Find funding for your studies
- How to Learn Music Theory Without Formal Training
- Building a Music Career While Working a Full-Time Job
- Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP) - Compare with another European conservatory
- Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia - Compare with Rome's leading music academy
- Conservatorio di Milano Official Website - Admissions, programs, and concert calendar
- Conservatorio di Milano YouTube Channel - Open Day videos and orchestra concerts
