From the Nominator

"Created in 2013 and reprinted until 2021, our previous Conservatory of Music viewbook had long outlived its usefulness. It had no room to chronicle advancements in our programs, changes to our physical spaces, shifting institutional priorities, and more. It was essential for us to “modernize” the publication and more fully and clearly articulate our central messages.  

To achieve this, we first needed to expand from a previous size of 16 pages to our current 56 pages. One key benefit of expansion was the opportunity to dive into each subject area (e.g., string instruments, jazz studies, or the residential experience) with a dedicated section, rather than a mere listing or blurb. In essence, the new viewbook does more things for more people. It helps us convey in-depth insight about each area of study and virtually every facet of life here through easily digestible text and images, providing a more complete picture of what we’re all about.  

In recent years, institutional priorities have called for an increased emphasis on courting students to Oberlin’s groundbreaking Double Degree Program, which allows them to earn degrees from both the college and conservatory. To accomplish this, it was essential for us to create a publication that succeeds as a stand-alone introduction to the conservatory, but also complements the look, tone, and content of the recently redesigned college viewbook. This can be an especially challenging line to toe because of the very different strategies often required to attract highly gifted music students as compared to attracting gifted students across the liberal arts."

From the Judges

This hefty piece, with a dedicated page for each instrument's field of study, gives students an opportunity to dive deep into their particular interests, while also learning about the bigger picture. We were impressed by the amount of information and thoughtful design that went into the piece. By being so comprehensive, the challenge of describing how the student can combine the conservatory and liberal arts program was well met.