music conservatories and mature students..

[trinapiano]

.

[thalberg]

Here in America, 21 is not considered that old for a musician.  I know that in Europe, one needs to be a polished musician by the age of 18, but here people take their time a bit more.  3 years isn't as much as you think.  But if I had to give advice, I would say that in general universities get more of the older students than private schools do. 

On the other hand, I would humbly conjecture that academic standards would be lower at a conservatory than at a university.  I think your playing is everything at a conservatory.   Perhaps try one of America's lovely "free" music schools where no one pays tuition, like the Colburn School or the Curtis Insitutute.

[trinapiano]

.

[lazlo]

Curtis has a cutoff age of 21 years for pianists. So hopefully when you audition you'll be under 22. Also in general, they are much more geared towards taking young virtuosos. But this is only 1 school. There are so many others.