With well over 1,000 music programs offered in the U.S., it wasn’t easy to narrow it down to just 50! The aim of these annual awards is to recognize excellence specifically in terms of how U.S. post-secondary institutions serve foreign musicians in particular.

Whether it’s excellence in teaching, superior financial aid or international student services, the schools listed below go above and beyond for their foreign musician students and we thank them for helping to foster a global community of artists, right here in the United States.

* Please bear in mind the difficulty in adjudicating such a competition. The number of factors to consider is virtually endless and one student’s experience may not reflect another’s. *

With an international student body of approximately 25% of the total, the Cleveland Institute of Music is one of the top destinations for foreign musicians. Their practice rooms and performance venues alike are acoustically advanced and there are a wide variety of performance opportunities available to students. The Cleveland Institute of Music also offers exceptional services for foreign musicians, including weekend excursions, in-depth language courses, and numerous after-class activities.

The prestigious Frost School of Music has built its reputation on a foundation of innovation: it was among the first schools to offer degrees in Studio Music and Jazz, Accompanying and Chamber Music, and more. Foreign musicians from approximately 43 countries study at Frost each year and have access to merit-based financial aid as well as a full, dedicated staff exclusively to assist international students with transitioning and succeeding in the U.S. and at the University of Miami.

The New England Conservatory of Music boasts an illustrious, award-winning faculty, as well as a significant number of Grammy and other award-winning alumni. Half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra calls – or once called – the New England Conservatory home. The school has numerous excellent performing spaces including Jordan Hall, acclaimed as one of the most acoustically perfect spaces in the world. And although this prestigious conservatory has deep roots in tradition, it is also on the cutting edge of innovation with its entrepreneurial musicianship program, designed to train musicians to succeed in the 21st century music industry.

The combination of intense conservatory study and well-rounded education is a hallmark of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. The school offers over 1,000 performance opportunities every year, including as many as 7 fully-produced operas. The University attracts more international students every year than virtually every other institution in America, and offers its foreign students a number of scholarship opportunities as well as special events throughout the year.

Not only is Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester one of the premiere music schools in America, but nearly all of Eastman students receive some kind of scholarship or financial aid. In addition to rigorous musical training, Eastman’s focus is to prepare its students for a career in music, so that they can thrive in their chosen industry beyond their academic years. Foreign musicians comprise approximately 25% of Eastman’s student body and there are a variety of events organized for international students throughout the academic year.

Oberlin has the distinction of being the oldest continually operating conservatory in America and offers exceptional facilities as well as hundreds of performance opportunities every year. In addition to a number of international student services include peer mentorship and career support, 90% of Oberlin students also receive tuition assistance to help make studying at one of the country’s premiere institutions more available and accessible.

Approximately 55% of students receive financial aid at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, one of the country’s most sought-after music schools. Its faculty is comprised of some of New York City’s foremost performance institutions, including the New York Philharmonic, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and more. With hundreds of performance opportunities and a prime location in the heart of the New York music scene, it’s no wonder that foreign musicians from nearly 50 countries flock to Manhattan School of Music.

It comes as no surprise that an institution as eminent as Juilliard has been the recipient of hundreds of awards, including over 100 Grammys. Throughout its more than 110 years of educational excellence, Juilliard has prided itself on providing unparalleled artistic education to exceptional students from all over the world. Juilliard’s Office of International Advisement is dedicated to helping foreign artists adjust to life in New York City and scholarships are available for qualifying musicians.

The Colburn School offers a breadth and depth of musical opportunities that is perhaps unmatched by any other institution in America. The campus was recently expanded and features state-of-the-art facilities and over 150 performance opportunities each year. Located in Los Angeles, one of the music epicenters of the world, tuition to Colburn is granted free of charge and includes a living stipend, making this one of the most sought-after programs for foreign musicians in the country.

A Curtis Institute of Music education is reserved for exceptionally talented musicians and offers exceptional facilities and over 200 performance opportunities per year. Enrollment is limited to approximately 175 students each year and is solely based on musical ability and promise. Alumni frequently find careers in illustrious symphony orchestras and ensembles all over the world. Tuition at the Curtis Institute of Music is free of charge, so students from all over the world can enjoy an unparalleled musical education without worrying about their finances.