Music

Listen deeply. Perform boldly. Make music that matters.

A person plays a violin with focus, holding the instrument with their left hand and using a bow in their right hand. The background shows blurred hands, suggesting other musicians nearby.

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. Students learn to listen closely, practice with purpose, take creative risks, and transform individual preparation into something larger than themselves. Whether performing great repertoire, writing an original song, or discovering an instrument for the first time, Porter’s musicians are encouraged to approach their work with curiosity, discipline, imagination, and joy.

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.

A group of musicians, mainly women, play string and wind instruments in an orchestra. They are seated in rows, dressed in black, and are focused on their sheet music during a performance.

“Making music asks something unusual of students. It requires discipline and vulnerability, independence and collaboration, precision and imagination—all at the same time.”

Explore our diverse music curriculum.

A choir of women in black dresses sings on stage, led by a conductor in front of a grand piano, with a red backdrop.

A person points at a laptop on a music stand with sheet music. Several blurred people in the background appear to hold musical instruments, possibly in a rehearsal setting.

A symphony orchestra performs on stage, with musicians playing violins, cellos, and other instruments under bright lights, while an audience watches from the darkened seats.

Two young women play saxophones while looking at a monitor. One wears a red shirt with a cartoon graphic, the other a brown shirt. They are seated in a bright room with a window in the background.

Four women playing violins on stage, dressed in black, standing behind music stands. Stage lights illuminate them, with an empty chair and microphone stand visible in the background.

Four young women stand side by side, singing indoors. They appear cheerful and focused, wearing summer clothing. A piano and brick wall are visible in the background.

MPS Chorus invites students at all levels to develop their foundational music skills and perform as part of a community of singers.

Music Classes →

Music Lessons

In one-on-one lessons, students receive individualized technical and artistic guidance—whether you are beginning an instrument, preparing an audition, tackling advanced repertoire or simply pursuing the satisfaction of becoming a more accomplished musician.

Brass

Trumpet, French Horn and Low Brass

Guitar

Acoustic, Electric and Bass

Percussion

Orchestral, Rock and Jazz

Piano

Classical, Jazz and Pop/Rock

Strings

Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass and Harp

Voice

Pop, Jazz, Musical Theater and Classical

Woodwinds

Clarinet, Flute, Oboe and Saxophone

Three young women in white dresses are standing together singing. They appear engaged and focused, possibly performing in a choir or musical event, against a bright indoor background.

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 Director of Music at Miss Porter’s School, where he conducts the school’s vocal ensembles and teaches courses in songwriting, music production, music theory and music history. During his tenure, Porter’s music program has expanded substantially in both faculty and student opportunities, encompassing academic study, large and small ensembles, private instruction, contemporary music, musical theater and performance experiences on and beyond campus.

An active vocalist and conductor, Patrick has performed with ensembles including the Chicago Symphony Chorus on Grammy Award-winning recordings, international tours and performances at Carnegie Hall. In 2026, he returned to Carnegie Hall as conductor of the MPS Chorus.

He holds a B.A. in Music from the University of Connecticut and an M.M.Ed. from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. His work at Porter’s has also included curriculum development, accreditation, admissions, advancement and interdisciplinary initiatives across the school.