Oberlin Conservatory of Music
Oberlin opens a world of possibilities: mentorship from esteemed faculty, exposure to transformative programs and visiting artists, access to exemplary facilities, and countless opportunities to perform—on campus and beyond!
Facts at a Glance
Latest Oberlin Conservatory of Music News
Emerson String Quartet Opens the Oberlin Artist Recital Series
September 6, 2023
Victor Hymes ’79 Named to Audubon Society Board
August 31, 2023
Gary Bartz Named NEA Jazz Master for 2024
August 17, 2023
Two share top prize at the 2023 Cooper International Piano Competition
August 5, 2023
Three Pianists selected for the Cooper Competition’s Final Round
August 2, 2023
2023 Cooper International Piano Competition Field Narrowed to Seven Pianists
August 1, 2023
Upcoming Events
Areas of Study
With majors ranging from historical performance to electronic music, and with 42 areas of private study, Oberlin Conservatory transforms talented undergraduate musicians into disciplined professionals.
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Double Degree Program
We’re the only major music school in the country that shares a seamless campus with a liberal arts college. This allows you to earn bachelor’s degrees from both the conservatory and the college in five years or fewer.
On Stage
Performance is an integral part of Oberlin life. Each year, students, faculty, and guest artists present 500 concerts spanning five centuries of music. With more than two dozen large ensembles and a robust small-ensemble culture, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to perform in a variety of styles on campus—and around the world.
Professional Development
Hone your intellectual and artistic passions—and put them into practice. The offices of Conservatory Professional Development and Creativity & Leadership present on-campus workshops and programs developed to bring your career into focus and offer guidance every step of the way.
Conservatory Complex
The conservatory boasts exceptional facilities: nine concert halls, 150 practice rooms, more than 240 Steinway pianos, and an incredible 32 organs for practice and performance. You’ll have access to important instrument collections, seven electronic music studios, and one of the nation’s top conservatory libraries, including Special Collections that are prized by music researchers around the globe and play an integral role in teaching and learning at Oberlin.
Oberlin Conservatory of Music Faculty
Our internationally renowned faculty are dedicated teachers and communicative artists. They spend generous hours teaching lessons, coaching ensembles, and providing caring mentorship. Individual instruction is tailored to the needs of each student.
I think that there’s a new understanding that we are all humans and we can do our best work if we take care of ourselves and if we take care of each other, and I am happy to be teaching from that perspective.
Life After Oberlin
Oberlin fosters a culture of risk-taking that leads to high achievement. Our alumni earn top honors in major national and international competitions across the musical spectrum. They excel as performing artists and as conductors, composers, producers, theoreticians, entrepreneurs, historians, and educators. Think one person can change the world? So do they:
- Claire Chase ’01, flutist and entrepreneur
- Jeremy Denk ’90, pianist
- Rhiannon Giddens ’00, singer-songwriter
- Steven Isserlis ’80, cellist
- Edward Parks ’06, baritone
- Du Yun ’01, composer
