Oberlin Conservatory

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.

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 2025-26 academic year (the most recently published figures):

• Tuition: $68,340
• Housing: $9,970
• Food (meal plan): $10,126
• Fees: $1,092 (includes a $50 refundable Green Fee)
• Total direct costs: $89,528
• Books and supplies: $930 (estimated indirect cost)
• Personal expenses: $978 (estimated indirect cost)
• Student health insurance: $2,880 (waivable with comparable coverage)

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
• Jeremy Denk ('90): Pianist and MacArthur Fellow
• Rhiannon Giddens ('00): Singer-songwriter and MacArthur Fellow
• Steven Isserlis ('80): Internationally renowned cellist
• Du Yun ('01): Pulitzer Prize-winning composer
• Edward Parks ('06): Grammy-winning baritone
• Robert Spano ('84): Music Director of the Aspen Music Festival
• Jennifer Koh ('97): Violinist and Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient
• Theo Croker ('07): Jazz trumpeter

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.

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.

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.

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