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Undergraduate Program
A bassist in formal wear smiles onstage.

Undergraduate Double-Degree Program

Two Degrees, Two Applications
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All Conservatory applicants must submit an application to both the Conservatory and the College. The deadline for both applications is January 1. 
Performance Application Composition Application College Application
Two singers behind sheet music next to a piano.
Photo by Liam Brosh ’25

Two Applications, Two Admissions Letters

Because the Conservatory undergraduate program is a double-degree program, applicants will receive two separate decision letters: one letter will come from the Conservatory admission office, and one will come from the College admission office. You will be able to view each letter online by accessing your student portal. Each letter will inform you as to whether or not you have been admitted, wait-listed, or denied. Applicants who are not admitted to the College may not attend the Conservatory. Applicants who are admitted to the College but not the Conservatory will be able to enroll in the College and participate in music through the bachelor of arts Music Program.
A pianist leaning over a piano and smiling.

Important Dates and Deadlines

  • January 1: Both applications and all materials for first-year applicants are due.
  • Mid-January: Prescreening notifications will be emailed to all applicants.
  • End of February, beginning of March: Final auditions are held at Bard College.
  • Mid-March: Final admissions decisions and financial aid packages will be released. 
  • May 1: Enrollment deadline

A Note About Regular Decision

All applicants to Bard Conservatory for admission in Fall 2026 must submit a Regular Decision application to Bard College. Additional information about the Bard College application process may be found below. 
Bard College Application Information →

Conservatory Majors

Strings Woodwinds
Brass Other Conservatory Majors
Traditional Chinese Instruments
Bard Conservatory offers a bachelor of music degree in performance or composition. Through our US-China Music Institute in partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, we offer training in traditional Chinese instruments.

Strings

Bard Conservatory offers a Bachelor of Music Performance in the following string instruments: 

Bass
Cello
Viola 
Violin

Woodwinds

Bard Conservatory offers a Bachelor of Music Performance in the following woodwind instruments: 

Bassoon
Clarinet
Flute 
Oboe

Brass

Bard Conservatory offers a Bachelor of Music Performance in the following brass instruments: 

Horn
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba

Other Conservatory Majors

Bard Conservatory offers a Bachelor of Music Performance or Composition in the following additional instruments: 

Composition
Harp
Percussion 
Piano 
Voice 

Traditional Chinese Instruments

Bard Conservatory offers a Bachelor of Music Performance in the following traditional Chinese instruments: 

Dizi
Erhu
Guqin
Guzheng
Konghou
Chinese Percussion 
Pipa
Ruan
Sheng
Suaon 
Yanxin
Other (with special permission) 

Bard College
Bard College
Conservatory of Music
30 Campus Road
Annandale-on-Hudson
New York 12504-5000
845-758-7196
[email protected]
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All photos by Karl Rabe unless stated otherwise.