The Conservatory Experience for Accepted Students

 

All Roads Lead to Oberlin

Welcome to Oberlin Conservatory of Music! 

For more than 150 years, Oberlin Conservatory has been at the forefront of nurturing countless talented musicians, just like you.

Explore the events below to get to know Oberlin more. Our students, faculty, and staff are excited to help you find your path here in the conservatory—where creativity flourishes and extraordinary careers begin.

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Visit Campus

A picture of greens pace on Oberlin's campus

Admitted students and their families are invited to come to campus during All Roads Lead to Oberlin.

All Roads Preview Days

Conservatory Experience: April 10 and 24

Visit us on one of these dates to sit in on ensemble rehearsals, attend performances, explore music classes, tour campus, discover career resources, and connect with faculty, staff, students, and fellow incoming classmates. Experience the unique vibe of the Oberlin community! You are also welcome to visit campus during April outside of these preview days or on one of the general programming dates specified below.

General Programming: April 3, 6, and 17

We will be offering tours for admitted students, as well as opportunities to visit a conservatory class, meet with faculty, or observe an ensemble rehearsal or studio class. These individual offerings are also available on other weekdays throughout April. Be sure to stop by the Conservatory Admissions Office to plan your day! 

 

Register for a Campus Visit

 

Planning for Your Visit

Below is a sample schedule for Conservatory All Roads' programming on April 10 and 24. 

Registration will be open from 8:00 am through 8:45 am. Visitors will be able to sign up for a conservatory tour, a campus tour, or class visits (students only) during check-in. 

General All Roads programing will feature a select range of music activities available for those interested. General programming can be found here.

Class Visits
Class visits are available throughout the day, beginning at 10:00 am. Admitted students do not need to make class visit arrangements in advance.

Conservatory and double degree admitted students should plan to arrive at 8:15 am to ensure ample time to sign up for class visits before for our 9:00 am welcome and panel. 

Featured events in bold:

TimeActivity
8:00 AM to 8:45 AMCheck-in and Sign-Up for Tours and Class Visits
9:00 AMConservatory Welcome and Student Panel
10:00 AM
  • Class Visits
  • Conservatory of Music Tour
11:00 AMAll Roads Welcome Address from the President
12:00 PM to 1:45 PM
  • Jazz Forum
  • Lunch
1:00 PM
  • Ensemble Rehearsals (orchestral)
  • TIMARA Studio Tour & Presentation 
1:30 PM
  • Conservatory of Music Tour
  • General Campus Tour
  • Class Visits
2:30 PMCareer Development Panel
3:30 PM
  • Student Music Organizations Overview and Q&A
  • Music Theater Tour
4:00 PMDouble Degree Q&A Session
4:30 PMEnsemble Rehearsals (jazz and choir)
5:00 PM
  • Student Social Activity (students only)
  • Parent/Guardian Reception

Families are also welcome to attend other events and performances taking place on campus during your visit. Please refer to the events calendar for other activities that you may wish to attend.

Visiting Campus

Oberlin is about a 30-minute drive from the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). If you are traveling from the airport, please visit our Airports and Ground Transportation page for shuttle and taxi information.

If you plan to drive to campus, set your GPS to: 38 East College Street, Oberlin, OH 44074.

Information on other nearby hotels and local bed & breakfasts is available on our Accommodations page

Parking

Visitor parking is available behind The Hotel at Oberlin in the parking lot accessible from Willard Court, one block east of Main Street. From Willard Court you can see the hotel's covered driveway guest entrance as well as the main entrance for the Office of Arts & Sciences Admissions. Please refer to our Campus Map for additional parking options. All campus parking is free.

Engage with Oberlin Virtually

Whether or not you are able to come for an in-person campus visit, we encourage you and your family to engage with Oberlin virtually. You can even take a self-guided virtual campus tour using our interactive map!

Below are a variety of live sessions throughout March and April that are designed to help you connect with Oberlin’s students, faculty, campus, curriculum, and culture. Click on any event to register! Students will need to log into their Applicant Portal to register for these events.

Conservatory Admitted Student Welcome & Overview | March 26, 8:00 PM
Chinese Student Experience |  March 26, 8:00 AM
Jazz Ensembles Overview | April 2, 8:00 PM 
Voice Division Overview and Studio Hang | April 2, 7:00 PM
International Conservatory Student Welcome & Panel | April 11, 9:00 AM
Conservatory Student Experience Panel | April 12, 7:00 PM
For Parents, From Parents: Conservatory Q&A | April 12, 6:00 PM
Housing & Dining Webinar  | April 14, 7:00 PM
Advance Your Art: Careers in Music and Entrepreneurship | April 14, 6:00 PM

 

Conservatory Admitted Student Welcome and Overview

Congrats and welcome! Join the Dean of the Conservatory, the Director of Conservatory Admissions, and current students for a celebratory webinar on why we’re excited to see you this fall and the new opportunities for admitted students. This event is open to all admitted students and families. International students can also register for the International Student Welcome.

For Parents, From Parents: Conservatory Q&A

Hear from current "Obie" parents about what makes Oberlin so special. In this session, parents of of conservatory-only and double degree students studying in a variety of musical areas share their paths to choosing Oberlin, and some of the amazing experiences their children have had thus far. Parent panelists will speak on topics including student life, post-graduation pathways, and more. Join in a Q&A afterwards.

Jazz Ensembles Overview

Faculty panelists will explore the unique opportunities available to student musicians, from gigging opportunities to performing in world-class venues around the country. Learn more about campus events such as our weekly Jazz Forum series. Discover how Oberlin’s dynamic jazz community nurtures creativity, honors tradition, and promotes artistic growth. 

Conservatory Student Experience Panel

Hear from current Conservatory students about their experiences at Oberlin. You'll get honest and candid answers to your questions about all aspects of student life and learn more about our campus community in this virtual session.

Voice Division Overview and Studio Hang

Voice faculty will provide a brief overview of Oberlin's opportunities for singers—including singing diverse repertoire in our vocal ensembles, performing with Oberlin Opera Theater, and participating in master classes with world-class artists. Afterward, meet current and fellow admitted students in your assigned studio for a *student-only* casual chat about life at Oberlin. Don’t miss this chance to hear about the transformative experiences awaiting singers at Oberlin!

Housing & Dining Webinar

*Hosted by A&S Admissions* Oberlin is a residential college and we believe that living and eating together fosters a strong community. During this webinar, Oberlin Residential Education staff and current students answer your questions about housing and dining at Oberlin.

Advance Your Art: Careers in Music and Entrepreneurship

An overview on how Oberlin supports the professional endeavors of conservatory students through our Career Exploration & Development Office and the Conservatory Professional Development Office. Come with questions about the resources you can take advantage of to help you create a successful future. 

Keep an eye on your email inbox! Invitations and registration for virtual department-specific studio hangs will be sent in the coming weeks. These events will provide the opportunity to meet classmates from the incoming class for this fall and have questions answered by current Obies in your specific instrument area.

 

Register for Virtual Events 

 

Financial Aid Appointments

Answers to commonly asked financial aid questions can be found on our Financial Aid website. The Financial Aid Office can help with questions regarding your need-based financial aid. Questions about merit scholarships should be directed to the Admissions Office.

If you would like to speak with a counselor from the Financial Aid Office, virtual appointments are available via Zoom on select weekdays. Register here to schedule an appointment (students will need to log into their applicant portal):

 

Chat with a Financial Aid Officer

 

 

 

Oberlin on Stage 

A picture of students performing on stage

Each year, Oberlin Conservatory presents nearly 500 performances and streams roughly 400 concerts live from 8 dynamic campus venues. These webcasts showcase student ensembles and degree recitals as well as select performances by faculty and guest artists. The concerts are free and are available online only during the performance time.

See the Live Webcast schedule

Throughout the week, you can hear performances featuring students in our Jazz Studies division, the Oberlin Orchestra, and small ensembles.

Interested in learning more about Oberlin on your own time? Check out our YouTube Channel for a variety of virtual tours, Shorts on student life, and recordings of past concerts.

Oberlin on YouTube

Need More Information?

Online Conservatory Viewbook: Oberlin offers one of the world’s most relevant undergraduate educations. Read about how we make connections between musical excellence, passion, and impact.  

If you have questions, we're here to help! Contact Conservatory Admissions at 440-775-8413 or conservatory.admissions@oberlin.edu. You can also reach out to Financial Aid or Housing if you have specific questions for those offices.

 

Next Steps Checklist