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Dylan Bachmann

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General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Cello
  • Music
  • Hiking And Backpacking
  • Soccer
  • Music Theory
  • Orchestra
  • Gaming
  • Jiu Jitsu
  • Swimming
  • Meditation and Mindfulness
  • National Honor Society (NHS)

Reading

  • Music
  • Historical
  • Biography
  • Self-Help
  • History
  • Academic
  • Classics

I read books multiple times a month.

Bio

My name is Dylan Bachmann, and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student studying cello performance at Oberlin Conservatory. Music has been the cornerstone of my life since I began playing cello at the age of 6, and I am deeply passionate about chamber music and collaborating with other musicians. Working with other performers to bring music to life is one of the most rewarding and challenging things that I have encounter, and is what keeps me coming back to it. I aspire to become a professional chamber musician and to teach at the conservatory level in the future. I am a very diligent and hard-working individual when it comes to my music. I never miss a day of practice, and am always working to find new ways to better my craft and to learn from others. I have performed in many different venues, from churches, house concerts, retirement homes, to beach bars and the traditional concert hall stage. In every performance, there is always something new and unexpected, and is a huge part of my development as a musician. Curiosity is what drives me to keep working, experimenting, and playing every single day. Receiving a scholarship allows me to "work" less, so that I can work more on my practice, performance, artistry, and teaching.

Education

Oberlin College

Bachelor's degree program

2023 – 2027

Majors:
  • Music
GPA4.0 GPA

Pittsford-mendon High School

High School

2019 – 2023

GPA4.0 GPA

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
The Juilliard School, Yale University, Rice University, The New England Conservatory of Music, Manhattan School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Curtis Institute of Music, Indiana University-Bloomington, Northwestern University, University of Southern California, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Rochester
Majors of interest:
Music

Career

  • Substitute Cellist

    Music · Firelands Symphony Orchestra

    Jan 2026 – Present

  • Substitute Cellist

    Music · Mansfield Symphony

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Cello Teacher

    Music · Self-Employed

    Jan 2024 – Present

  • Freelance Musician

    Music · Self-Employed

    Jan 2023 – Present

  • Quartet-in-Residence

    Music · St. Clarence Church - Artist in Residence Program

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Usher

    Music · Oberlin Conservatory

    Jan 2024 – Present

  • Math Instructor

    Education · Mathnasium

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Music
Dream career goals:
My goal is to become a professional cellist, teaching at a conservatory and regularly performing as a chamber musician and soloist
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
Audrey Sherrill & Michael D'Ambrisi Music Scholarship
My musical journey began long before I started playing cello. Growing up, there was always music in my home– both my parents sing, my dad plays piano, and my two older brothers are string players. While none of them were professionals, I can’t remember a day where I didn’t hear music. Naturally, I fell in love with it, and after begging for over a year, I finally got my first cello, a “viola with an endpin.” I was quickly set on music, and for ten years I was certain I wanted to become a professional musician. However, when the pandemic hit and schools shut down, this certainty began to waiver. Every day on the news, I saw injustice after injustice happening in my own backyard. My best friend, someone like family to me, was doing a tremendous amount of social justice work, founding a district-wide school diversity initiative and organizing rallies. When the New York Times requested an interview, his parents refused, fearing he would be targeted or worse because of the color of his skin. Witnessing his work led me to a crisis of conscience. I thought if I pursued music, I would be failing to do my part, seriously questioning the one thing that had always been central to my identity. My entire junior year of high school, I wrestled with this, agonizing over the right thing to do. Ultimately, I decided that I still wanted to pursue music, but my perspective and motivation changed dramatically. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else, but I had realized that music could become my own vehicle for doing good in the world. I committed myself to that purpose. Since arriving at Oberlin Conservatory, numerous experiences have allowed me to use music in meaningful and impactful ways. In January, I had the opportunity to travel to Uruguay for a musical exchange between my sextet and local musicians from three different cities across the country. We played informal concerts at many different venues, while also taking workshops on traditional Uruguayan drumming and theater, receiving coaching on and performing traditional and popular Uruguayan music with multiple local musicians. Knowing little Spanish, I could still see how meaningful it was to people when we played the music that they knew, not just the standard classical music we had been trained in. I’ll never forget playing with a whole bar full of people singing and dancing, sharing the music as we played it with them, not just for them. I also play regularly at Oberlin’s senior living communities. Each time I come, at least one person shares how the performance made their day or starts a conversation about the music itself. Bringing music directly to people who would otherwise have a challenging time getting out to listen helps foster community, combats isolation, and nurtures intergenerational relationships– impacts that extend far beyond the performance. Similarly, in January 2025, as part of a conductorless orchestra project, I played at Grafton Correctional Institution’s volunteer-run string orchestra program for inmates. The conversations I had with the men in the program have stuck with me. Hearing them describe what it meant to have the privilege to play music, the peace and the expressive outlet it gave them, and how much they looked forward to the rehearsal each week, is something I will never forget. It’s a testament to the creative and healing powers of music. I have seen firsthand how music crosses cultural, experiential, and systemic boundaries, and I intend to continue this kind of work as I begin to launch my career and build a life as a musician.
Dylan Bachmann Student Profile | Bold.org