conservatoire
Americannoun
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conservatoires
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of conservatoire
1765–75; < French < Italian conservatorio conservatory, originally, orphanage; early schools of music originated in orphanages where a musical education was given
Explanation
A school that specializes in teaching students how to perform or compose music is called a conservatoire. Use the noun conservatoire to describe a music school — you might also call it a conservatory. Some conservatoires focus exclusively on teaching music, while others combine music instruction with academics, drama, or dance. The word conservatoire is French, and it comes from the Latin root conservare, which means "to preserve." Originally, a conservatoire was a "hospital for foundlings in which musical education was given."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Its principal, Professor Anthony Bowne, estimates the levy will cost the conservatoire £500,000 a year if it goes ahead.
From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2025
Orlando thinks that one day, Antigua and Barbuda could have its own conservatoire, enhancing the nation's touristic offerings far beyond the beaches.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2023
Mr Ford said the photos "document a period of life" when people played chess in bathing costumes in the open air, and music conservatoire students performed in the metro.
From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2023
Many young jazz musicians were trained by free grassroots organisations such as Jazz Warrior alumni Gary Crosby’s workshop Tomorrow’s Warriors, disrupting the traditional privileged pathway of jazz conservatoire education.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 21, 2019
Whether that development is in store for us I do not know, but I can imagine certain social benefits that would accrue from the municipal incorporation of a dramatic conservatoire.
From Modern Eloquence: Vol II, After-Dinner Speeches E-O by Thomas B. (Thomas Brackett) Reed
Yeah, when I was studying, my feeling about the way that contemporary music was taught in British universities and conservatoires was that it seemed very hard to teach composition, but you could teach orchestration.
From New York Times ● Feb. 11, 2024
Photograph: Andrew Lepley/Redferns The teaching of jazz in conservatoires may now be commonplace, but for decades the art was informally learned by listening to records and sharing ideas.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 12, 2013
A native of Basel, Gruntz studied at conservatoires there and in Zurich.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 21, 2013
They've tended to go and study at the conservatoires in Glasgow or Manchester and then they're gone.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 7, 2012
The young musicians in modern conservatoires, music colleges and universities study in an environment that fosters respect for and engagement with a multitude of genres and traditions.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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