conservatoire
Americannoun
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
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
But recently Yami returned to education - as a lecturer at a London conservatoire.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2021
But Guy expanded the piece later for full big band and symphony orchestra combined, for a conservatoire workshop – and it's just as well he did, because that's indirectly how we got to this Prom concert.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 19, 2012
In 1800 he went to Paris and completed his studies at the conservatoire under such masters as Boieldieu, Rey and Pradher.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 3 "Fenton, Edward" to "Finistere" by Various
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
We compete for students with other UK conservatoires.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 1, 2013
Most weeks, the UK's conservatoires stage new music concerts, usually free, to train students in the hard art of contemporary repertoire.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 25, 2012
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
