The 20 Best Music Conservatories in The U.S.

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Colleges
musicians, namely, a conservatory.

In choosing a conservatory, music students seek a
program that will provide them with the skills and
opportunities needed for them to grow and flourish
Liberty University
as artists. At the same time, they want a program

that prepares them in a practical way for a career in
the music world.
Western Governors
University
The 20 conservatories on this list offer some of the

best music programs in the nation. They are located
across the United States.
Colorado State
University
Global Campus
Some, like Juilliard and Curtis, are well-known

training grounds for students of classical music.
Others, like the Colburn School or Musicians
Saint Leo University
Institute, prepare students for careers in the

contemporary music industry.
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Despite their many differences,

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each school on this list is

dedicated to advancing the
future of music by training the
next generation of musicians.
The schools in this ranking were selected on the
basis of educational excellence, strength of faculty,
reputation, and record of accomplishment by
alumni/ae.
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Conservatories
1. Juilliard School
(New York, NY)
Each State
Founded in 1905, the Juilliard
20 Tuition-Free Colleges
School can easily be

considered the most
20 Best Hospitality
Programs
prestigious music
conservatory in the countryand for good reason.
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Best-Paying Bachelor
Degrees
known for its high-expectations, Juilliard has

produced many musicians who have become
household names: from Miles Davis to Yo Yo Ma to
Rene Fleming.
Recognized Schools for

Autism
Located in New York Citys Lincoln Center and
The school offers a Bachelor of Music, a Masters of

Music, and a Doctorate of Music Arts, as well as
various combinations of the three.
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Higher Education
Admission is highly competitive and requires a live
Colleges and
vocalists and 16 percent of instrumental musicians
Universities
are accepted. About 600 of Juilliards 650 students
Bachelors Degree
audition. Each year, only about five percent of
are music students (there is also a dramatic arts

program). Because the school is so small, it has no
Masters Degree
problem attracting top talent. Juilliard musicians
Guide to Online
soloists or as members of top-ranked music groups.
tend to be competitive students who are happiest as
Education
First-year students are required to live in student
housing, almost all of which is ideally located
around the Lincoln Center area. Although Juilliard
The Cutting Edge

Sheldrake-Shermer
Dialogue
has received some criticism for its limited

availability of practice space, the school is currently
in the process of adding additional practice rooms
on campus and in residence halls.
Ghostwritten Papers
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Ghostwritten Papers
2. Curtis Institute of Music
Greatest Living Geniuses
(Philadelphia, PA)
Rock and Roll at Sixty
Founded in 1924, the

Philadelphia-based Curtis
Institute of Music has
TBS Online Learning

Scholarships
(Six winners! One short essay)
produced many notable

alumniespecially composers, including Leonard
Bernstein, Gian Carlo Menotti, Ned Rorem, and
Nino Rota. Other famous alumni include conductors
Jaime Laredo and Alan Gilbert, violinist Jascha
Online Education
50 Best Online Colleges
2016
Lang.
Curtis is likely the most selective conservatory in
Scholarships for Online

Students
the country. Live auditions are required, and only

four to 11 percent of applicants are accepted each
year. The entire undergraduate student body
Best Online Degrees

Brodsky, organist Alan Morrison, and pianist Lang
consistently hovers around 150 students, 100
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Best Online Degrees
percent of whom receive a full-tuition scholarship
Students Guide to
(though housing costs are not included).
Online Ed
The rigorous music education students receive at
Best Online Colleges by
Curtis is seemingly successful at propelling students
State
into musical careers. Students can participate in any

of the four campus ensembles, all of which are led
by an elite faculty.
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Vocal graduates have gone on to sing with the Met,

La Scala, and other internationally famous opera
companies, while Curtis musicians currently occupy
principal chairs in every major American symphony.
3. Manhattan School of Music

(New York, NY)
Located on Manhattans
Upper West Side, the
Manhattan School of Music
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Manhattan School of Music

is a competitive environment that offers its students
a number of valuable opportunities.
Founded in 1917, the conservatory is especially
respected for its jazz department, which has
produced a long roster of notable alumni, including
Harry Connick, Jr., Herbie Hancock, Hugh Masakela,
and Herbie Mann.
But the conservatory isnt just about jazz. In fact,
the Manhattan School of Music boasts strong
programs all around, all of which are headed by a
first-class faculty that includes members of the New
York City Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera,
and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
All students take classes in Music Theory, Music
History, and a variety of performance arts. Popular
degrees offered include Doctorate of Music Arts
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and Master of Music in Classical Studies, Jazz Arts,

and Orchestra Performance, among others.
The school itself is moderately selective. Forty
percent of applicants are admitted to join the
undergraduate student body of about 400. Firstyear students are required to live in student
housing, and approximately 55 percent of all
students receive some sort of financial aid.
4. Berklee College of Music

(Boston, MA)
Unlike many of the
conservatories on this list,
Berklee is firmly focused
upon the study and practice of contemporary, as
opposed to classical, music.
Founded in 1945, it was the first music school in the
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Founded in 1945, it was the first music school in the

United States to include jazz in its curriculum.
Berklee consistently ranks in the top 10 of American
conservatories.
With 4,131 students, Berklee is one of the biggest
schools on this list. It offers students the choice of
certificates, Bachelors, and Masters in several
different programs, the most popular of which
include songwriting, general music performance,
music management, music teacher education, and
music therapy.
Berklee calls itself the worlds premiere learning lab
for the music of todayand tomorrow.
The Colleges long list of successful alumni include
composer/producer extraordinaire Quincy Jones,
jazz-pianist legend Keith Jarrett, film composer
Howard Shore, and countless Grammy, Oscar, and
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Tony winners.
5. Mannes College-The New School for

Music
(New York, NY)
Founded in 1916, Mannes College
joined The New School for
Music consortium in 1989. Since
then, it has solidified itself as
one of the top choices for
serious young music students.
Located in New Yorks Greenwich Village, Manness
student population hovers around 350, making it
one of the smallest conservatories on this list.
Both undergraduate and graduate degrees are
offered in departments such as classical music
performance, voice, composition, jazz, and more.
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Manness elite faculty includes a number of wellrespected composers, as well as past and current
members of the New York Philharmonic and the
Metropolitan Opera.
6. New England Conservatory of Music

(Boston, MA)
Located in Boston, the New
England Conservatory of
Music is one of the largest
conservatories to be located
in an urban setting. In fact, the college community
that is Boston remains a huge draw to prospective
Conservatory students.
Nearly half of the members of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra have ties to the school, while Boston
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itself is a vibrant music community with several

regional orchestras and performance ensembles.
Admissions into the New England Conservatory is
moderately competitive, with approximately 30
percent of applicants offered admission each year.
The most popular programs include composition,
jazz, and strings.
The Conservatory has recently received positive
press for its newest program, Entrepreneurial
Musicianship, which is designed to assist students in
establishing successful careers in the music
industry.
The Conservatory, which was founded in 1867, is
also home to the 1,013-seat Jordan Hall, a National
Historic Landmark and one of the worlds most
acoustically-perfect performance spaces.
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7. Boston Conservatory
(Boston, MA)
Founded in 1967, Boston
Conservatory offers Bachelor
of Fine Arts, Bachelor of
Music, Master of Fine Arts,
Master of Music, artist diplomas, and certificates in
such departments as music, musical theater, and
music education.
It is also one of the few conservatories offering
instruction in all major instruments, including
collaborative piano, harp, marimba, and vocal
pedagogy.
Boston Conservatory offers admission to
approximately 40 percent of its applicants, and
boasts a yearly retention rate of more than 85
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percent.
Student housinga requirement for freshmenis a
series of traditional Boston brownstones. Students
share cafeterias, campus restaurants, and gyms with
nearby Northeastern University.
Boston Conservatory alumnae include classical
guitarist Lily Afshar and the luminous Lorraine Hunt
Lieberson, whom many considered Americas finest
mezzo-soprano until her tragically early death in
2006.
8. Cleveland Institute of Music

(Cleveland, OH)
Cleveland Institute of
Music may be smaller than
most of the conservatories
on this list, but it boasts a
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on this list, but it boasts a

number of benefits and opportunities that should
appeal to the serious music student.
Most notably, Clevelands lower cost of living results
in lower tuition and housing costs.
Like most other colleges and conservatories, firstyear students are required to live in student
housing. Admission is competitive, with only 30
percent of applicants offered a place.
Cleveland Institute of Music has a good reputation
across the board, especially when it comes to their
strings and woodwinds departments, both of which
are led by top faculty.
Thanks to the Institutes focus on training
undergraduates, students have plenty of
performance opportunities. Half of the schools
faculty are past or current members of the worldopen in browser PRO version
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class Cleveland Orchestra, and Severance Hall is

located mere blocks from campus.
9. San Francisco Conservatory of Music

(San Francisco, CA)
San Francisco Conservatory
of Music is a smaller
conservatory located in the
citys Civic Centera mere stones throw from the
San Francisco Symphony and Opera House.
Though the city of San Francisco remains a big draw
for prospective music students, the Conservatory
remains one of the least competitive on this list.
Approximately 40 percent of applicants are invited
to join the schools 450 students each year.
A whopping 95 percent of students receive a
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scholarship of some kind, and student housing is

located throughout San Franciscos many desirable
neighborhoods.
The Conservatorys programs are widely respected
across the board, though its graduate chamber
music program stands out as one of the top
programs in the country.
Students of all degree levels are given a number of
performance opportunities in and around the Bay
Area, and an impressive one-third of the
Conservatorys faculty hails from the worldrenowned San Francisco Symphony.
10. Peabody Conservatory-Johns

Hopkins University
(Baltimore, MD)
Peabody Conservatory is a
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division of the Peabody

Institute, which is itself a
division of Johns Hopkins
University.
It is no surprise, then, that Peabodys stature is
commensurate with the larger universitys stellar
international reputation.
Located in Baltimore, Peabody has been training
students for professional careers in music for more
than 150 years. The Conservatory has produced
numerous respected artists.
Though music is of course the main focus of the
curriculum, Peabodys programs also stress civic
responsibility. Students are expected to learn to be
leaders both in society and of their careers.
Unlike many other top conservatories in the area,
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Peabody encourages student collaboration, as

opposed to constant competition.
Degrees offered include Bachelor of Music, Master
of Music, Master of Art, and performance diplomas.
Popular majors include performance, jazz
performance, computer music, music education,
music theory, and recording arts and sciences.
11. Eastman School of Music-University

of Rochester
(Rochester, NY)
Though Eastman School of
Music is a true
conservatory, students
have the option of taking academic classes or
pursuing a minor through Eastmans sponsor, the
University of Rochester.
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Eastman consistently ranks among the top-rated

conservatories in the nation.
With a student body of only 900 students, its one
of the more selective conservatories, accepting
fewer than 30 percent of applicants.
Nearly every student receives a scholarship, which
is an important benefit, considering Eastman is also
one of the most expensive conservatories.
Eastman is known for having an outstandingly
rigorous program. Its graduate program is especially
respected, drawing a number of prospective
students from other conservatories.
Eastman has produced many successful alumni, and
has former students in every major orchestra in the
country.
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12. Oberlin Conservatory of Music

(Oberlin, OH)
Oberlin Conservatory of
Music is the oldest
conservatory in the country.
Associated with Oberlin
College, this is a truly unique school.
Most students at Oberlin Conservatory opt for the
traditional, four-year Bachelor of Music degree
program. However, about 30 percent of students
choose the more rigorous, five-year, dual-degree
program offered by the Conservatory in
conjunction with highly selective Oberlin College.
Upon completion of the five-year program,
students receive both a Bachelor of Arts from
Oberlin College and a Bachelor of Music from
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Oberlin Conservatory. Many of the students

admitted to the demanding five-year program
manage to complete their studies in fewer than five
years.
Oberlin Conservatory maintains an excellent
reputation, and is especially well known for its
programs in contemporary and baroque music, as
well as its unique TIMARA (Technology in Music and
Related Arts) program.
Located in rural Ohio about an hour southwest of
Cleveland, Oberlin Conservatory has fewer than 600
students. Approximately 25 percent of applicants
are offered admission, 90 percent of whom are also
offered tuition assistance.
Oberlin has graduates in every major ensemble in
the United States.
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13. Academy of Vocal Arts

(Philadelphia, PA)
There may be no better
place for aspiring opera
singers to perfect their
art than Philadelphias
Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA).
AVA was founded in 1934 by Helen Corning Warden,
a Philadelphia socialite who wanted to establish a
place where talented singers could train without
suffering the financial burdens of the Great
Depression. While the Great Depression is long
over, AVA remains dedicated to providing free
higher education to future stars of the opera.
Not surprisingly, AVA is highly competitive and only
28 singers are accepted per year. The curriculum is
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centered around a one-on-one approach with

conductors and vocal coaches.
In addition to vocal lessons, students also take
classes in French, German, Italian, movement and
dance, stagecraft, history of opera, care of the
professional voice, stage combat, and professional
development, among others.
Recitals and performances are frequent, and
students are often given the opportunity to
audition for visiting companies in the U.S. and
abroad.
14. Jacobs School of Music-Indiana

University
(Bloomington, IN)
Jacobs School of Music is a
music conservatory that is
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also a part of Indiana

University Bloomington. Established in 1921, it is the
largest accredited music school in the nation.
A live or recorded audition is required for entrance
into Jacobs, and approximately 25 percent of
undergraduate applicants are offered admission
(about 200 students per year).
Students are required to participate in at least one
ensemble each semester. Choices of ensembles
range from 13 choirs, to eight bands, to seven
orchestras.
Jacobs offers Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts,
Master of Music, and Doctor of Music degrees,
among others, in a wide variety of musical fields.
Jacobs consistently ranks among the top music
schools in the nation, and Jacobs students are
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frequent winners in the Metropolitan Opera

National Council Auditions in New York City each
spring.
The schools 180+ full-time faculty members include
a number of performers of international renown.
Alumni include superstar violinist Joshua Bell,
conductor Leonard Slatkin, songwriter/producer
Booker T. Jones, jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, cellist
Paul Katz, singer Sylvia McNair, and many others.
15. New World Symphony

(Miami Beach, FL)
New World Symphony is
the worlds only full-time
orchestral academy.
Founded in 1987 in Miami Beach, New World
prepares students for careers in symphony
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orchestras and ensembles.

New World is an intensive three-year program. In
addition to training and education, the school
presents a full season of concerts from September
to May, including full orchestras, a chamber music
series, ensemble, and more.
Students are given a number of performance
opportunities both in the United States and abroad,
and are even encouraged to design and present
their own concerts.
New World has produced approximately 900 alumni
who are currently working in 170 orchestras in 17
countries.
16. Los Angeles College of Music

(Pasadena, CA)
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Los Angeles College of

Music is a private, for-profit
music school located in
Pasadena, California.
Founded in 1996, the school focuses on providing
its approximately 150 students with the hands-on
knowledge necessary for succeeding in careers in
the contemporary music industry.
The unique six-quarter program results in students
receiving a non-transferrable professional degree in
drums, guitar, bass, or voice.
Every member of the faculty is a current industry
professional, and frequent master classes are
offered with a long list of well-known artists.
As of Fall 2014, LACM offers a Bachelor of Music
(BM), accredited by NASM, for Drum, Bass, Guitar
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and Vocal Performance, as well as Music Producing

& Recording. Other programs debuting Fall 2015 are
Brass & Woodwinds and Music Business, which will
be B.A., not B.M., programs.
Alumni of Los Angeles College of Music have gone
on to work with artists such as Paul Anka, Ricky
Martin, Chick Corea, Jeff Beck, Natasha Bedingfield,
the Black Eyed Peas, and many more.
17. Bard College Conservatory of Music

(Annandale-on-Hudson,
NY)
Founded in 2005 under the
auspices of Bard College,
this conservatory is located in Annandale-onHudson, New York.
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The schools unique, five-year, undergraduate

degree program allows students to obtain both a
Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in a
subject other than music.
Bard boasts an elite faculty, many of whom also
teach classes at Juilliard and Curtis Institute. As a
result, programs are rigorous, but come with plenty
of performance opportunity.
Popular undergraduate programs include the
standard orchestral and chamber instruments, as
well as composition. Popular graduate programs
include vocal arts, conducting, and collaborative
piano.
18. McNally Smith College of Music

(Saint Paul, MN)
Founded in 1985, McNally
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Founded in 1985, McNally

Smith College of Music is a
private, for-profit
institution. The school is widely known and
respected in the music industry for its intimate
setting, access to studios and practice space, and
small class sizes with one-on-one attention.
McNally Smith offers Associates and Bachelors
degrees in subjects such as music business, guitar,
bass, drums, voice, keyboard, brass and woodwinds,
strings, live sound production, songwriting, and
much more.
Every faculty member at McNally Smith is a current
industry professional, many of whom have resumes
that include gold and platinum albums, Grammy
awards, and Broadway work.
Notable alumni include singer/songwriter Ari
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Herstand, This World Fair guitarist Zack Carroll, and

Quietdrive guitarist Justin Bonhiver.
19. Colburn Conservatory of Music

(Los Angeles, CA)
Located in downtown Los
Angeles, the Colburn
Conservatory of Music is
ideally located next to the Museum of
Contemporary Art and across from the Walt Disney
Concert Hall.
The Conservatory is a division of the Colburn
School, which was originally founded in 1950 as the
Community School for the Performing Arts on the
campus of the University of Southern California.
The school changed its name to the Colburn School
of the Performing Arts in 1986, and moved to its
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of the Performing Arts in 1986, and moved to its

present location in 1998. Finally, in 2003, the
Colburn Conservatory of Music was created within
the Colburn School.
The Colburn Conservatory of Music has a
comprehensive curriculum that includes one-onone and group lessons, music theory, ear training,
voice, and a rigorous chamber music program.
Admission into the Colburn School is highly
competitive, with only 11 percent of applicants
accepted each year. Each and every Colburn
student receives a full-ride scholarship, which
includes tuition, room and board, and a living
stipend.
20. Musicians Institute

(Los Angeles, CA)
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Founded in 1977 in
Hollywood, the Musicians
Institute (MI) is a college of
contemporary music which focuses on helping its
students build the creative skills necessary to
develop successful music careers.
The school has a 96 percent admissions rate and
with 1,425 studentsis one of the largest music
schools in the country.
MI offers a variety of accredited programs ranging
from Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Music
degrees, to certificates and alternative non-degree
programs.
Students interested primarily in instrumental
performance can choose from bass, drums, guitar,
piano, keyboard, or vocals programs.
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Those interested primarily in the music industry

can choose either the audio engineering program
or the independent artists program.
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Home

The 20 Best Music

Find Your School!

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

musicians, namely, a conservatory.

as artists. At the same time, they want a program

The 20 conservatories on this list offer some of the

Some, like Juilliard and Curtis, are well-known

Saint Leo University

Institute, prepare students for careers in the

Despite their many differences,

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

each school on this list is

Readers also like:

The 20 Best Music

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

The 20 Best Music

Founded in 1905, the Juilliard

School can easily be

25 Best MSW Programs

known for its high-expectations, Juilliard has

Recognized Schools for

Located in New York Citys Lincoln Center and

The school offers a Bachelor of Music, a Masters of

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Admission is highly competitive and requires a live

vocalists and 16 percent of instrumental musicians

are accepted. About 600 of Juilliards 650 students

audition. Each year, only about five percent of

are music students (there is also a dramatic arts

problem attracting top talent. Juilliard musicians

soloists or as members of top-ranked music groups.

tend to be competitive students who are happiest as

The Cutting Edge

has received some criticism for its limited

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

2. Curtis Institute of Music

Greatest Living Geniuses

Rock and Roll at Sixty

Founded in 1924, the

TBS Online Learning

(Six winners! One short essay)

produced many notable

Scholarships for Online

the country. Live auditions are required, and only

Best Online Degrees

Brodsky, organist Alan Morrison, and pianist Lang

consistently hovers around 150 students, 100

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Best Online Degrees

percent of whom receive a full-tuition scholarship

(though housing costs are not included).

Curtis is seemingly successful at propelling students

into musical careers. Students can participate in any

Vocal graduates have gone on to sing with the Met,

3. Manhattan School of Music

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Manhattan School of Music

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

and Master of Music in Classical Studies, Jazz Arts,

4. Berklee College of Music