Music
Music
Perform, compose and develop your unique voice as a musician.
Whether you love performing on the stage or writing new songs behind the scenes, at Miss Porter’s School, you’ll find the guidance and resources to sharpen your skills and grow as a musician.
Porter’s music program is designed to meet you where you are—whether you’re picking up an instrument for the very first time or deepening a longtime practice.
Wide-ranging music classes deepen your understanding of music history, composition and theory. Students bring that learning to life through on- and off-campus concerts, festivals and performances throughout the school year.
“Music-making at Porter’s is rooted in empathy and connection, helping students develop both confidence and compassion. At the same time, the program provides rich opportunities for highly dedicated musicians to shine.”
Explore our diverse music curriculum.
MPS Chorus invites students at all levels to develop their foundational music skills and perform as part of a community of singers.
In our music theory classes, students build their music literacy, develop a deep understanding of tonal music foundations, and build sight-singing and dictation skills.
Students in our orchestra course develop technical skills in strings, wind, brass or percussion instruments and perform as part of an orchestral ensemble.
Learn the fundamentals of songwriting and composition and use the latest music technology to create songs across different genres and subject matters.
Advanced ensemble classes are open to experienced student musicians. Working alongside a faculty instructor, you’ll rehearse and perform in small ensemble groups.
Sarah Porter’s Singers is a highly skilled vocal ensemble that performs songs spanning different genres, time periods and languages.
MPS Chorus invites students at all levels to develop their foundational music skills and perform as part of a community of singers.
Perilhettes
A Porter’s tradition since the 1940s, the Perilhettes are one of our campus’ most celebrated and long-standing student groups. Our student-run senior a cappella group performs at campus events throughout the year, singing a mix of timeless classics, traditional Porter’s songs and current popular hits.
Patrick Reardon, Director of Music
Patrick Reardon is the Director of Music at Miss Porter’s School, where he conducts the vocal ensembles, including the historic a cappella group, the Perilhettes. He teaches courses in songwriting, music production, music theory and music history through the UConn Early College Experience program. Patrick leads a music department that has grown fivefold during his tenure. He holds a BA in Music from the University of Connecticut and an MMEd from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago.
An active and versatile vocalist and conductor, Patrick has worked with such ensembles as Chicago Symphony Chorus, singing on Grammy Award-winning recordings, international tours and at Carnegie Hall, where he recently conducted the MPS Chorus. He currently serves on the board of Music at the Red Door, a local organization that provides free concerts and music camps to the Hartford area.
Since joining Miss Porter’s School, Patrick has contributed to curriculum development, accreditation, admissions and advancement initiatives across the school. He lives on campus with his family.
