Conservatory Admissions

Keyboard

Keyboard

Details on requirements for piano and organ auditions.

Piano

  • One composition by Bach
  • A complete classical sonata (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven)
  • One étude of virtuosity
  • One composition from the romantic period
  • One composition by a 20th or 21st century composer

All works must be performed from memory. Recordings must carry statements that the performances are memorized.

Piano Artist Diploma

Applicants must prepare a program of 50-60 minutes, including the following:

  • A prelude and fugue (4 or 5 voices) from the Well-Tempered Clavier, or another major work of Bach
  • A complete classical sonata of Mozart, Haydn, or Beethoven
  • One étude of virtuosity
  • A substantial romantic work
  • Any remaining work(s) to be chosen by the applicant

A live audition at Oberlin is highly recommended. All recordings must be high-quality DVDs.

Organ

Three or four contrasting pieces from the standard organ literature that demonstrate the applicant's technical and musical skills. At least one piece should be chosen from the works of J.S. Bach. Sight-reading of a four-part hymn harmonization is expected. Applicants with a strong piano background who wish to major in organ may elect to play their audition on the piano.

 
Did You Know

Oberlin owns 207 Steinway pianos, and the Conservatory's concert and recital halls, classrooms, teaching studios, and most practice rooms are equipped with Steinway grands. Considered a "Steinway only" campus, the most recent purchase was made in spring 2007 via a $150,000 donation from a Florida couple. The new addition gives Oberlin the largest collection of Steinway pianos in the world outside of the Steinway factory.

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