Oberlin Conservatory of Music facts for kids
Musician entering the Oberlin Conservatory
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|
| Type | Private music conservatory |
|---|---|
| Established | 1865 |
|
Parent institution
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Oberlin College |
| Dean | William Quillen |
|
Academic staff
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88 |
| Students | 615 |
| Location |
,
,
United States
41°17′29″N 82°13′10″W / 41.291402°N 82.219407°W |
| Website | http://www.oberlin.edu/conservatory |
The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is a special music school. It is part of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. It started in 1865. This makes it the second oldest music school in the United States. It is also the oldest one that has been open all the time.
Oberlin is unique because it is fully connected to a college. Students can study both music and other subjects. They can even earn two degrees in five years. Most students at the conservatory are undergraduates. This means they are working on their first college degree.
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A Look at Oberlin's History
Oberlin College began in 1833. It was first called the Oberlin Collegiate Institute. In 1867, the Oberlin Conservatory joined the college. This happened two years after the conservatory first opened.
Oberlin was special for many reasons. It was the first college and music school in the U.S. to regularly accept African-American students. This was very important before and after the Civil War. A famous student, William Grant Still, graduated from Oberlin. He became known as the "dean of African-American composers." Oberlin still believes in freedom and fairness for everyone.
Oberlin was also the first college to accept both male and female students. This made it the oldest coeducational music school. Because of its importance in social progress, Oberlin College and the conservatory became a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
Oberlin also played a part in the start of electronic music. Two inventors, Elisha Gray and Thaddeus Cahill, were connected to the conservatory. Gray invented an early electronic sound device. Cahill invented the telharmonium, a huge electronic music machine. In 1967, Oberlin started the TIMARA program. This was the world's first program for Technology In Music And Related Arts.
In 2009, Oberlin Conservatory received a big award. It got the National Medal of Arts. This is the highest award the U.S. government gives to artists. Oberlin is the only music school to get this honor from President Barack Obama.
How to Join Oberlin
Students can apply to the conservatory only. Or, they can apply for the five-year Double-Degree program. In this program, students earn two degrees. They get a music degree and a liberal arts degree.
Getting into Oberlin is very competitive. Over 1,400 musicians apply each year. Only about 120 new students are accepted. Admission mostly depends on a very strong audition.
Exploring Oberlin's Buildings
The conservatory is located in four buildings. These buildings are all connected. They are on the south side of Tappan Square. The first three main buildings were designed in 1963. The architect was Minoru Yamasaki. His design looks a lot like the World Trade Center he designed later. In 2010, the buildings were improved. This made the sound better and added a new recital room.
In 2010, the Bertram and Judith Kohl Building opened. This building is home to the Jazz Studies, Music History, and Music Theory departments. The Kohl Building is connected to the Robertson Building. A bridge on the third floor links them. This bridge also has the Sky Bar. It is named after a famous jazz club.
The Robertson Building has about 150 practice rooms. Most of these rooms have windows. This building also has the Otto B. Schoepfle Vocal Arts Center. Other areas include the Career Resource Center and the Kulas Organ Center.
Oberlin has been an "all-Steinway school" since 1877. This means they use only Steinway & Sons pianos. They have one of the largest collections of these pianos in the world. There are over 240 Steinway pianos at Oberlin.
What You Can Study at Oberlin
Oberlin Conservatory offers many ways to study music. You can take private lessons in 31 different areas. You can also major in things like piano performance. Students can earn a Bachelor of Music degree. They can also get a Master of Music degree. There are also performance and artist diplomas.
Students accepted into both the College and the Conservatory can join the double-degree program. This lets them earn degrees from both parts of Oberlin.
The music programs are divided into four main departments:
- Department of Contemporary Music
- Department of Performance
- Department of Historical Performance
- Department of Musicology
The Oberlin Jazz Ensemble
The Oberlin Jazz Ensemble is a group of talented musicians. It includes students who study jazz and classical music. This ensemble is part of a four-year program in jazz studies. Students can earn a music degree in jazz performance or composition.
Wendell Logan started the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble in 1973. He was a professor of African-American Music. He also led the Jazz Studies Program.
Some famous musicians who were part of the Ensemble include:
- Ben Jaffe '93
- Chris Jonas '88
- Michael Mossman '82
- Chris Eldridge '04
- Peter Evans '03
- Sullivan Fortner '08
Notable people
Faculty
Alumni
Images for kids
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Panoramic view of the Conservatory Pond, connecting Bibbins and Robertson.
See also
- List of Oberlin College and Conservatory people
- List of colleges and university schools of music in the USA
