Norwalk Conservatory: Nurturing Artistic Talent and Career Readiness
The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts stands as a beacon for aspiring professional artists, dedicated to providing exemplary arts education, positively impacting the local arts community, and forging lasting connections within the music, theatre, and television/film industries. The Conservatory focuses on discovering career-ready young artists committed to pursuing intensive training with the goal of immediate employment upon program completion.
Academic Programs and Artistic Disciplines
Ready to kick-start your journey at our conservatory? Explore the vibrant world of Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre Dance, and Television & Film. Dive into our comprehensive resources to learn more about each discipline. When you're ready to take the spotlight, connect with our admissions team to apply and discover your path to artistic success. Prepare for an immersive artistic journey as a high school student. Explore the diverse opportunities awaiting you in our PreCollege Intensive Program.
Audition Requirements
The Norwalk Conservatory has specific audition requirements for each discipline:
- Musical Theatre: Two song cuts (30-60 seconds each, not exceeding 90 seconds). Contemporary styles are preferred, but students should choose what they do best. Submissions can include prescreens/self-tapes, recorded solo performances, and optionally, a contemporary monologue (90 seconds max) and/or dance video (30-60 seconds).
- Musical Theatre Dance: One song cut (30-60 seconds, not exceeding 90 seconds), contemporary styles preferred. Submissions can include prescreens/self-tapes, recorded solo performances, and one or two dance videos (60-90 seconds each, not exceeding 2 minutes) in MT/jazz or similar styles. An optional contemporary monologue (90 seconds max) may also be submitted.
- Commercial Dance: Two dance videos in the style of your choosing (each video should be 60 to 90 seconds in length, not to exceed 2 minutes each). At least 1 should be Hip Hop or similar style.
A New Performing Arts College in Norwalk
A brand-new performing arts college is preparing to open in Norwalk, Conn. The Norwalk Conservatory College will be run by the founders of the Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts, a nonprofit organization started in 2018 by Broadway performers Danny and Ricky Loftus George that offered theater classes to students from different colleges and universities. The two have spent the last three years developing a college curriculum and preparing to launch an accredited, four-year performing arts college.
Launching a New Institution in a Changing Landscape
At a time when the higher education landscape appears to be shrinking, it’s unusual to hear about a new institution opening up, said Deborah Obalil, president and executive director of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design. The rate of college mergers, acquisitions and closures was hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The college has a long way to go before it becomes a sustainable four-year institution. It must operate for two years before it can even begin the accreditation process. The conservatory cannot grant degrees while it awaits accreditation and will offer two-year certificates to undergraduates and one-year graduate certificates in the interim. Norwalk’s first class will include 75 students. Applications will be accepted starting Aug.
Read also: Explore Norwalk Community College
Faculty and Accreditation
Danny Loftus George, co-founder and president of Norwalk, is not worried about attracting students. He’s hopeful the college’s lineup of all-star faculty members will draw students to apply. “Our faculty are some of the biggest directors and choreographers working in the industry,” Danny Loftus George said. Demand for performance and visual arts education was growing nationally prior to the pandemic, Obalil said. Many of the Norwalk faculty members don’t have master of fine arts degrees, which accrediting agencies require of college professors, Danny Loftus George said. That means the conservatory will have to reshuffle faculty members once it’s accredited. Some professors will be moved to adjunct positions. “Some people we can make cases for with the accrediting body and some we can’t, but we’ll definitely have to cross that bridge when it comes,” Danny Loftus George said.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition at Norwalk will cost $35,000 annually. Because the conservatory is not yet accredited, students accepted into the program will not be eligible for federal financial aid or Pell Grants. College officials hope to raise enough money to support some student scholarships, and they will also help students secure private loans through Sallie Mae. “Any institution that cannot access federal financial aid support is automatically self-selecting into a certain demographic of students,” she said. “The more scholarship money we have, the better. The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts is committed to admitting the most talented and promising performers, regardless of financial background. NoCo commits nearly $1.5 million annually in scholarships. All applicants will be considered for a limited number of merit-based scholarships based on their audition. Applicants wishing to be considered for needs-based assistance must submit additional financial information to the Office of Financial Aid upon acceptance. Although we are not able to award scholarships to every student, we try to assist as many as possible.Scholarships are awarded for the duration of the student’s course of study. Please note that Norwalk Conservatory is not a Title IV institution and therefore is currently unable to accept federal grants/loans/work study. We are currently undergoing the accreditation process and will update all current/future students with any status changes.
Addressing Financial Accessibility
The conservatory recognizes the importance of financial accessibility and is actively working to provide scholarship opportunities. While awaiting accreditation, the institution is exploring alternative funding options to support students in their artistic pursuits.
Campus and Facilities
Norwalk classes will be held in a historic theater building in downtown South Norwalk, which was built in 1914 and has hosted performances by Harry Houdini and Ella Fitzgerald. Restoring the theater is the largest financial hurdle the college currently faces. Completing the project will require between $10 million and $15 million. The conservatory is fundraising to finance the project and has received funding from a variety of other sources including local, state and federal financial assistance, grants and tax credits. Norwalk is putting together an advisory board, which will govern the college and weigh in on everything from program structure to institutional budgeting and spending to the ongoing theater renovation. The Norwalk Conservatory campus is located just outside New York City, 45 minutes by train to midtown Manhattan.
Commitment to Community
The town of Norwalk, where the conservatory is located, has been very supportive of the new college, according to Danny Loftus George.
Read also: Understanding Norwalk Education
Conservatory's Philosophy and Approach
The Norwalk Conservatory was developed by Broadway and Television/Film Creatives for those students who are ready to work in the industry but require some additional training and the connections needed to excel in their careers. The Conservatory engages in a recruitment process that focuses on discovering career-ready young artists committed to pursuing intensive training with the goal of immediate employment upon program completion.
Individualized Attention and Industry Connections
We believe strongly in individualized attention. Our curriculums include core classes blended with uniquely relevant courses that are designed for today's industry. We leverage strong relationships and partnerships with regional theatres and entertainment companies nationwide for internships, job placement, and audition opportunities. Did you know our Faculty has a total of over 20 Tony Awards? They include Broadway and Film and Television Directors, Casting Directors, Choreographers, Agents and more! Regional theatres come directly to our campus to recruit talent. TV/Film Casting Directors send exclusive breakdowns to our administration.
Focus on Career Readiness
The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts strives to provide exemplary arts education to aspiring professional students, positively impact the local community of arts, and create connections in the music, theatre, and television/film world that will last a lifetime.
Recent Events and Developments
During the last academic year, the conservatory continued its in-person theater classes and required each student to get three COVID-19 tests and quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. “It felt like we were living in a bubble.
Closure of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
On June 3, 2025, the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts announced its decision to end its NAST Accredited course offerings effective in the 2025-2026 school year. This document addresses questions about how the closure impacts New York Conservatory students and alumni, and shares the Conservatory’s Teach-Out Plan for current students required and pending final approval by The National Association of Schools of Theatre. The New York Conservatory’s campus will close at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year for our Spring Start cohort on August 31, 2025. The Board of Trustees made this decision after careful consideration of all possible alternatives, recognizing that the landscape of higher education has meaningfully changed since the pandemic.
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Impact on NYCDA Students and Alumni
Yes, degrees earned at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts are always valid since the Conservatory is a fully accredited institution of higher education. Will the New York Conservatory campus continue to operate throughout the 2024-2025 academic year? If you have applied for the Plus One Program, or are interested in pursuing another program, the New York Film Academy has developed options for you. No, current second-year students will not be able to complete the AOS degree during the 2025-2026 academic year at The New York Conservatory, as course offerings will be closed before the scheduled start of the 2025-2026 academic school year which was scheduled to start on September 8, 2025. No, new/incoming first-year students will not be able to begin an AOS degree during the 2025-2026 academic year at The New York Conservatory, as course offerings will be closed before the scheduled start of the 2025-2026 academic school year which was scheduled to start on September 8, 2025. Yes, current first-year Spring-Start students may continue courses to complete their first year at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts this summer. Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students: NYCDA is working with American Academy of Dramatic Arts to transfer over your OPT status. The AADA PDSO will be contacting all current OPT students and those that have applied for OPT.
Teach-Out Agreements and Transfer Options for NYCDA Students
A teach-out agreement is a formal agreement between colleges allowing students to complete their programs or courses at a different institution when a branch campus or institution closes. The teach-out institution is another college in the New York City Area that is designated through a teach-out agreement to enable students to complete their degrees. No. Are parents of students able to get information about the teach-out or transfer process? NYCDA staff and faculty will be happy to speak with any parent about their student’s options. For NYCDA to be able to share specific information about a student’s situation, parents must ensure their student completes a FERPA waiver. NYCDA uses the industry standard for secure transcript ordering and delivery. Official transcripts should continue to be requested through the National Student Clearinghouse. How can a potential employer or other entity verify a degree or dates of attendance? Printed diplomas are being shipped during the next few weeks. If your school closed and you meet the eligibility requirements for a closed school discharge, you will qualify for a discharge automatically one year after your school closes. Students eligible for refunds of monies paid directly to NYCDA due to closure are being contacted individually by the Bursar. All refunds will be considered and processed prior to the official closure date. We know each student’s situation is unique. 1. 2. 3. NYCDA has established a teach-out agreement with the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA). Materials outlining AADA’s options are available. Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students: NYCDA is working with American Academy of Dramatic Arts to transfer over your OPT status. The AADA PDSO will be contacting all current OPT students and those that have applied for OPT. NYCDA has also established a teach-out agreement with Five Towns College. Please see information about their programs HERE. To further assist students during this transition, Five Towns College is prepared to assign dedicated Admissions Counselors to guide NYCDA transferring students through every step of the process. New York Film Academy has worked to create a smooth transition for NYCDA students to transfer credits from NYCDA into NYFA degree and certificate programs.
Supporting the Conservatory
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