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Oberlin College & Conservatory

Oberlin, OH

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ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program

Quick links

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Browse programs

Theatre

Music performance

Composition & music studies

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Quick links

BM Performance

Classical Guitar

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Training

Classical Guitar is an official area of study within Oberlin Conservatory’s Strings Division, one of 11 conservatory divisions

Students study privately with studio faculty from their first semester, combining applied lessons with required ensemble participation and Oberlin College’s liberal-arts curriculum

Studio faculty: Stephen Aron, Teacher of Classical Guitar

Performance & Productions

The studio maintains its own Renaissance lute, Baroque lute, theorbo, vihuela, and Baroque guitar, which guitar majors may borrow and take lessons on

Guitarists perform in the dedicated Guitar Ensemble and in campus chamber-music groups alongside the Conservatory’s roughly 500 annual concerts

Facilities

Kulas Recital Hall and the Conservatory library’s collection of guitar scores and recordings

School info

Snapshot

Avg GPA (W)

3.70

Admit rate

34%

school-wide

Grad rate

81%

Enrollment

2.9K

Earnings

$58K

10yr after

Costs & aid

Tuition & fees

$71,412

Before aid

Average net price

$38,645

After aid

Tuition And Fees · oberlin.edu College Scorecard

Program info updated 2h ago

Program Highlights

Training

Classical Guitar is an official area of study within Oberlin Conservatory’s Strings Division, one of 11 conservatory divisions

Students study privately with studio faculty from their first semester, combining applied lessons with required ensemble participation and Oberlin College’s liberal-arts curriculum

Studio faculty: Stephen Aron, Teacher of Classical Guitar

Performance & Productions

The studio maintains its own Renaissance lute, Baroque lute, theorbo, vihuela, and Baroque guitar, which guitar majors may borrow and take lessons on

Guitarists perform in the dedicated Guitar Ensemble and in campus chamber-music groups alongside the Conservatory’s roughly 500 annual concerts

Facilities

Kulas Recital Hall and the Conservatory library’s collection of guitar scores and recordings

Program Highlights

Training

Classical Guitar is an official area of study within Oberlin Conservatory’s Strings Division, one of 11 conservatory divisions

Students study privately with studio faculty from their first semester, combining applied lessons with required ensemble participation and Oberlin College’s liberal-arts curriculum

Studio faculty: Stephen Aron, Teacher of Classical Guitar

Performance & Productions

The studio maintains its own Renaissance lute, Baroque lute, theorbo, vihuela, and Baroque guitar, which guitar majors may borrow and take lessons on

Guitarists perform in the dedicated Guitar Ensemble and in campus chamber-music groups alongside the Conservatory’s roughly 500 annual concerts

Facilities

Kulas Recital Hall and the Conservatory library’s collection of guitar scores and recordings

Key Info

Enrollment Term

Fall 2027

University AppApplication

Apply

Common App

Deadline

Conservatory Common App deadline — Early Decision applicantsNov 1, 2026

Conservatory Common App deadline — Regular Decision applicantsDec 1, 2026

Undergraduate Applicants · oberlin.edu

Program AppApplication

Order

The university application must be submitted before the prescreen.

Fee

Conservatory Application Fee

$100

Deadline

Early Decision Screening Recording DeadlineNov 1, 2026

Conservatory Regular Decision ApplicationDec 1, 2026

Regular Decision Screening Recording DeadlineDec 4, 2026

Auditions

Early Decision On-Campus AuditionDec 5, 2026

On-Campus AuditionFeb 6–7 & 13–14, 2027

OR — Recorded Video Audition

Final Audition Recording DeadlineFeb 1, 2027

Undergraduate Applicants · oberlin.edu 33441 · oberlin.edu

Prescreen Requirements

Letters of Recommendation

Two area-of-study teacher recommendations

Transcript

Official secondary-school transcript

Audition Form

Audition/Interview Request form on the Applicant Portal, due November 4 (Early Decision) or December 4 (Regular Decision)

Musical Background and Selection Information form on the Applicant Portal, due November 4 (Early Decision) or December 4 (Regular Decision); "we cannot grant an audition (or interview if Composition, RA&P, or TIMARA) until we receive the required forms"

Repertoire List

Two contrasting pieces of the applicant's choice

One major scale (any), two or three octaves

33441 · oberlin.edu

Verified for Fall 2027 entry

Audition Requirements

Additional Materials

Repertoire List

Three contrasting pieces of the applicant's choice, at least one should be written before 1900

One major scale (any), two or three octaves

33441 · oberlin.edu

University Essays

Common App personal essay

250–650 words · Choose 1 of 7 prompts · Written once for all your Common App schools

Background, identity, interest, or talent: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Facing adversity: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Challenging an idea: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Gratitude: Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Personal growth: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Intellectual curiosity: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Topic of your choice: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The Common App enforces the length inside the application.

Application · Common App Undergraduate Applicants · oberlin.edu

Verified for Fall 2027 entry

Good to Know

Application Logistics

Apply to Oberlin Conservatory through the Common Application

Submit the Audition/Interview Request Form and area-of-study teacher recommendation requests through the Applicant Portal

All areas require screening materials before a final audition or interview

Choose Early Decision or Regular Decision according to your intended admission plan. Common App submission opens the Applicant Portal for either round; Early Decision is not required for access.

Allow 24-36 hours for the Applicant Portal invitation after applying; invitations for applications submitted before September 15 may wait until that date.

Eligibility

Transfer applicants submit a confidential transfer report and official transcripts of all college work, and perform entrance auditions; a maximum of 84 credits in music and/or liberal arts may be transferred

What's The Process

Audition Process

Submit screening materials through the Audition and Screening Dropbox on your Applicant Portal

Screening recordings and recorded auditions must be audio/video recordings; audio-only recordings are not accepted

Applicants who pass screening audition on campus or submit a recorded final audition (final audition recordings are due February 1)

Recordings submitted for the final audition may not be those used for screening, even when the repertoire performed is the same

Optional: supplemental performance recordings that highlight your abilities (for example live performances or pieces not in the required repertoire) may be submitted through the Audition and Screening Dropbox with your required materials; the final audition is weighed most heavily

Early Decision applicants who pass screening must audition on campus on Saturday, December 5, 2026

Audition Expectations

Compositions chosen should demonstrate the applicant's ability in phrasing, sustained playing, and technical facility, including legato and staccato at varied tempi

Scholarship Info

Merit Scholarships

Nearly all admitted Conservatory and double-degree students receive merit scholarships

Oberlin meets 100% of demonstrated financial need

School info

Snapshot

Avg GPA (W)

3.70

Admit rate

34%

school-wide

Grad rate

81%

Enrollment

2.9K

Earnings

$58K

10yr after

Costs & aid

Tuition & fees

$71,412

Before aid

Average net price

$38,645

After aid

Tuition And Fees · oberlin.edu College Scorecard

Training

Classical Guitar is an official area of study within Oberlin Conservatory’s Strings Division, one of 11 conservatory divisions

Students study privately with studio faculty from their first semester, combining applied lessons with required ensemble participation and Oberlin College’s liberal-arts curriculum

Studio faculty: Stephen Aron, Teacher of Classical Guitar

Performance & Productions

The studio maintains its own Renaissance lute, Baroque lute, theorbo, vihuela, and Baroque guitar, which guitar majors may borrow and take lessons on

Guitarists perform in the dedicated Guitar Ensemble and in campus chamber-music groups alongside the Conservatory’s roughly 500 annual concerts

Facilities

Kulas Recital Hall and the Conservatory library’s collection of guitar scores and recordings

Updated 2h ago