On Stage
At Oberlin, music is life. We’ve created a thriving cultural epicenter with dozens of student ensembles, a constant stream of visiting artists, and hundreds of live performances every year.
A performance by the Oberlin College Choir, Musical Union, and Chamber Orchestra conducted by Raphael Jiménez and Gregory Ristow ’01.
Quick Links
Performance Opportunities
At Oberlin Conservatory, you do not line up behind graduate students for ensemble placements, opera roles, and competitions—you perform in productions and in ensembles large and small from your first semester on campus.
Music Performances
Concert: Oberlin Creative Music Lab
Holidaze Rhythms and Rants
Nothing But Treble Fall Concert
Conservatory Spaces
From majestic concert halls to intimate coffeehouses and clubs, you’ll have the opportunity to play and hear live music in a variety of venues, in the conservatory and around campus. The conservatory’s nine performance spaces can also stream live events to a global audience.
Finney Chapel
Situated at the center of campus, Finney is Oberlin’s largest performance space and the heart of its musical and intellectual life.
Warner Concert Hall
Used for student, faculty, and guest recitals and recording sessions, Warner has 645 seats and a 44-stop, 3,400-pipe Flentrop organ.
Kulas Recital Hall
With seating for 144, intimate Kulas is ideal for chamber music performances.
David H. Stull Recital Hall
Affectionately known as “The Penthouse,” bright and flexible Stull Hall is on the top floor of the conservatory’s main building, Bibbins Hall. It hosts events for up to 120 guests.
Clonick Hall
The conservatory’s exemplary recording studio also hosts performances, recitals, master classes, and multimedia presentations by students, faculty, and guest artists.
Fairchild Chapel
A Medieval-inspired sandstone chapel, Fairchild offers seating for 150. The chapel is available for weddings, intimate spiritual and quiet meditation, recitals, and even one-act operas.
Hall Auditorium
This 501-seat hall is perfect for large-scale theater productions, dance performances, and opera theater.
Birenbaum Innovation and Performance Space
Located in the Hotel at Oberlin, the William and Helen Birenbaum Innovation and Performance Space accommodates more than 100 guests. By day, the Birenbaum is a teaching space; by night it’s open for conservatory performances and events.
The Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse
This student-run performance and meeting space is for student groups and guest artists alike. Music, spoken word, improv, slam poetry, workshops, community events, and student activism meetings take place here.
Additional Opportunities
Oberlin on Tour
The world gets to know your talents and skills when our nationally renowned ensembles tour.
Signature Events
Internationally regarded speakers, musicians, and performers regularly come to Oberlin to share their insights and experiences with the campus and community. Public lectures are free; artist performances and concerts require ticket purchase.
Master Classes and Secondary Lessons
Gain unmatched opportunities for intimate instruction with accomplished performers and music professionals from around the world, or seek supplemental guidance from faculty and other skilled instructors to take your skills even further.
Live Webcasts
Oberlin Conservatory each year live streams roughly 400 concerts from seven campus locations. These performances include student ensembles, student recitals, select master classes, and performances by faculty and guest artists.
A performance by the Contemporary Music Ensemble with Timothy Weiss, conductor.