Oberlin Conservatory of Music is a professional music school sharing a seamless campus with Oberlin College, a liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United States. Oberlin offers 42 areas of private study across classical performance, jazz, contemporary music, historical performance, composition, electronic music, music theory, musicology, recording arts, and music theater. The conservatory is exclusively undergraduate, with approximately 600 students.
Here is Oberlin's Illuminate campaign video, produced entirely by Oberlin alumni and students, featuring the Oberlin Orchestra:
Programs and Areas of Study
Oberlin Conservatory offers the Bachelor of Music (BM) degree across the following divisions:
- Performance (Classical): Orchestral instruments, piano, voice, guitar, and harp. Private study with faculty who perform with major orchestras and ensembles.
- Jazz Studies: Jazz performance and jazz composition. The Bertram and Judith Kohl Building houses the jazz program with three rehearsal rooms, Clonick Hall recording studio, and significant collections including the Selch Collection of American Music History and the Neumann Jazz Collection.
- Composition: Contemporary classical, jazz, and electroacoustic composition within the Division of Contemporary Music.
- Historical Performance: Nine period instruments including baroque violin, baroque cello, viola da gamba, harpsichord, fortepiano, recorder, baroque flute, baroque oboe, and organ. Students study performance practice alongside music history and theory.
- Electronic and Computer Music: Seven electronic music studios for synthesis, sound design, and computer music.
- Music Theory and Musicology: Analytical and historical study of music, available as majors and minors.
- Music Education: K-12 teaching certification and pedagogy.
- Recording Arts and Production: A newer program housed in Conservatory East Studios, an 8,600-square-foot facility with multipurpose studios and a recording control room.
- Music Theater: A program beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, combining vocal performance, acting, and movement.
Oberlin also offers a Double Degree Program allowing students to earn both a BM from the Conservatory and a BA from the College in five years or fewer. This is unique among major music schools because the conservatory and college share the same campus.
Tuition and Costs
Oberlin's tuition for the 2026-27 academic year:
- Tuition: $70,320 (billed as $35,160 per semester)
- Housing: $9,970
- Food (meal plan): $10,126
- Fees: $1,092 (includes a $50 refundable Green Fee)
- Total direct costs: $91,508
- Books and supplies: $930 (estimated indirect cost)
- Personal expenses: $978 (estimated indirect cost)
- Student health insurance: $2,880 (waivable with comparable coverage)
For schedules less than full time, a rate of $2,930 per credit hour is charged. For schedules above the maximum, a rate of $1,730 per credit hour is charged. The conservatory basic tuition charge includes schedules of 16 to 24 credits per semester.
Over two-thirds of Oberlin students receive need-based financial assistance. The college commits more than $100 million annually in grant aid. Oberlin is among the few American institutions that offer substantial financial aid to international students, though the international aid budget is limited. Students who do not apply for financial aid at the time of admission are not eligible for aid in future years.
Facilities
Oberlin Conservatory's facilities are exceptional for an undergraduate-only institution:
- Nine concert halls including the historic Finney Chapel
- 150 practice rooms
- More than 240 Steinway pianos
- 32 organs for practice and performance
- Seven electronic music studios
- Clonick Hall: A state-of-the-art recording studio in the Kohl Building
- Conservatory East Studios: 8,600-square-foot space for music theater and recording arts
- One of the nation's finest conservatory libraries, including Special Collections prized globally
The conservatory presents approximately 500 concerts per year spanning five centuries of repertoire, with more than two dozen large ensembles and a robust small-ensemble program.
Notable Alumni
Oberlin Conservatory alumni have earned top honors in major national and international competitions:
- Claire Chase ('01): Flutist, entrepreneur, and MacArthur Fellow (2012). She founded the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and has premiered hundreds of new works. She serves as a professor of music at Harvard University.
- Jeremy Denk ('90): Pianist and MacArthur Fellow (2014). He has appeared as soloist with major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, and Chicago Symphony. His writing on music has appeared in The New Yorker and The New York Times. His memoir Every Good Boy Does Fine was published in 2022.
- Rhiannon Giddens ('00): Singer-songwriter, banjo player, and MacArthur Fellow (2017). She co-founded the Carolina Chocolate Drops and has released multiple solo albums. She won a Grammy for her work on the Nashville Soundtrack and has performed at the White House.
- Steven Isserlis ('80): Internationally renowned cellist who has performed with major orchestras worldwide. He is a recipient of the Robert Schumann Prize and has written several books for children about composers.
- Du Yun ('01): Pulitzer Prize-winning composer (2017) for her opera Angel's Bone. She is a professor at the University of Chicago and has been a Guggenheim Fellow.
- Edward Parks ('06): Grammy-winning baritone who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera and won the 2017 Grammy for Best Opera Recording.
- Robert Spano ('84): Music Director of the Aspen Music Festival and former Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (2001 to 2021). He has conducted at major venues including Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera.
- Jennifer Koh ('97): Violinist and Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient. She has premiered works by over 80 composers and performed as soloist with orchestras worldwide.
- Theo Croker ('07): Jazz trumpeter who has released over 10 albums and collaborated with artists including Dee Dee Bridgewater and J Cole.
Four Oberlin Conservatory alumni have received MacArthur "genius" fellowships. Grammy-winning violinist and composer Zach Brock will join the faculty in fall 2026 as associate professor of multi-genre performance and improvisation.
Rhiannon Giddens TED Talk: Songs That Bring History to Life
Giddens performs traditional folk ballads and an original song inspired by Civil War-era slave narratives, demonstrating the historical research that informs her music:
Rhiannon Giddens at NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
Giddens performs songs from her album There Is No Other with musical partner Francesco Turrisi, playing a replica of an 1858 banjo:
Jeremy Denk Practicing Ligeti's Piano Etudes
Denk practices Gyorgy Ligeti's piano etudes in his Manhattan apartment, describing the music as "continuous madness" and "wonderful, joyful madness":
Admission and Audition Process
Admission to the conservatory requires a prescreening recording or portfolio, a live audition, academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Applicants apply through the Common Application and indicate the Conservatory of Music as their school of interest. Oberlin is test-optional for fall 2026 and fall 2027 applicants (SAT and ACT scores are accepted but not required).
Audition Process
All performance areas require an audition. Composition, TIMARA (Technology in Music and Related Arts), and Recording Arts and Production programs require an interview instead. All applicants must submit screening materials as a first round review. Applicants who pass screening are invited to a final audition.
On-campus audition dates for fall 2026 entry:
- Early Decision: December 5 to 6, 2026 (Jazz Studies on December 4)
- Regular Decision: Most instruments audition on February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026. Jazz Studies auditions on February 6, 13, and 20. Music Theater on February 14 and 21.
- Recorded auditions: Available for all areas except Music Theater, TIMARA, Composition, and Recording Arts and Production. Deadline is February 1. Recordings may be unaccompanied (except for voice) and produced with high-quality home equipment. Recordings used for screening may not be reused for the final audition.
Oberlin now offers an Early Decision option for conservatory applicants. Students who apply Early Decision and pass screening will audition on campus in early December.
International students must demonstrate English proficiency and should note that Oberlin's international financial aid budget is limited. Students who do not apply for aid at admission cannot apply for aid in subsequent years.
Who Should Apply
Oberlin Conservatory is the right choice for undergraduate musicians who want professional conservatory training with the option to also pursue a liberal arts degree. The Double Degree Program is a major draw: students can study music performance while earning a BA in subjects like computer science, biology, economics, or English. The conservatory's small size (approximately 600 students) means close faculty mentoring and abundant performance opportunities. Oberlin is particularly strong for students interested in historical performance, jazz, contemporary music, and composition. The rural Ohio location is a trade-off: students get a focused, close-knit community but not the urban music industry access of schools in New York, Boston, or Chicago.
Related Resources
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- Music Schools Directory - Browse other top music schools
- Oberlin Conservatory Official Website - Current admission requirements, programs, and faculty listings
