2026 ranking · 30 schools
Best Australian private schools for music
Schools with conservatorium-tier music programs — international touring orchestras, multi-ensemble structures, instrumental scholarships at Grade 6+ standard.
Abbotsleigh
Wahroonga, Sydney · Anglican · girls
Consistently top HSC results among Sydney girls' schools · Strong music and choral program · Sister school to Knox Grammar (joint events)
Brisbane Grammar School
Spring Hill, Brisbane · Independent (non-denominational) · boys
Top NAPLAN numeracy results in QLD · GPS sport powerhouse · Strong music + debating tradition
Reddam House
Bondi, Sydney · Independent (non-denominational) · co-educational
Modern co-ed eastern suburbs · Strong music + drama + visual arts · Personalised learning pathways
Camberwell Grammar School
Canterbury, Melbourne · Anglican · boys
Strong VCE academic results (median 34, 20% scoring 40+) · AGSV member with strong sport program · Established music, debating and outdoor education programs across Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
St Peters Lutheran College
Indooroopilly, Brisbane · Lutheran · co-educational
IB Diploma + AC Senior pathways · Largest Lutheran co-ed school in QLD · Strong music conservatorium and outdoor ed (Crows Nest)
Carey Baptist Grammar School
Kew, Melbourne · Baptist · co-educational
IB Diploma offered alongside VCE in Years 11-12 (since 1997) · Carey Toonallook outdoor education campus in Gippsland · Strong music program via the Phil de Young Performing Arts Centre
Melbourne Grammar School
South Yarra, Melbourne · Anglican · boys (co-ed Prep-Year 6)
28-time Head of the River rowing champions · Internationally touring symphony orchestra · Strong VCE results, median ATAR consistently 90+
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon, Sydney · Uniting Church · girls
IB World School (PYP and Diploma) · Award-winning STEM and design programs · Strong music and dance co-curricular
Trinity Grammar School (Summer Hill)
Summer Hill, Sydney · Anglican · boys
Strong music program (one of largest school music programs in Australia) · AAGPS sport member with strong rugby and rowing · Field studies centre at Woollamia
John XXIII College
Mount Claremont, Perth · Catholic (Jesuit + Loreto) · co-educational
Joint Jesuit + Loreto Sisters foundation · Strong music + drama programs · Mid-fee Catholic co-ed in Perth west
Brisbane Boys' College
Toowong, Brisbane · Independent (Presbyterian and Uniting Church) · boys
GPS sport (rugby, rowing, cricket) · Strong cadet + outdoor education · Robust music and pipe band tradition
Stuartholme School
Toowong, Brisbane · Catholic (Society of the Sacred Heart) · girls
Sacred Heart Madeleine Sophie Barat tradition · Largest girls' boarding school in QLD · Strong music + drama programs
Trinity Grammar School Kew
Kew, Melbourne · Anglican · boys
APS sport (rowing, cricket, football) · Strong music + concert band program · Eastern Melbourne campus
Lowther Hall Anglican Girls Grammar
Essendon, Melbourne · Anglican · girls
Western Melbourne Anglican girls school · Strong music + drama programs · Mid-fee Anglican option
Somerset College
Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast · Independent (non-denominational) · co-educational
IB World School offering both Primary Years Programme and IB Diploma · Choice of IB Diploma or QCE in Years 11-12 · Strong music, drama and sport program on a 33-hectare campus
Westminster School Adelaide
Marion, Adelaide · Uniting Church · co-educational
South Adelaide Uniting Church co-ed · Strong music + sport programs · Boarding house draws from regional SA + interstate
Methodist Ladies' College Perth
Claremont, Perth · Independent (Uniting Church / Methodist heritage) · girls
~90 boarders from regional WA · Top-ranked TEE/ATAR historical performance · IGSSA sport + strong music
Penrhos College
Como, Perth · Uniting Church · girls
Mid-fee Uniting Church girls school · Strong music + drama programs · Boarding for regional WA families
Iona Presentation College
Mosman Park, Perth · Catholic (Presentation) · girls
Presentation Sisters Nano Nagle tradition · Strong music + drama programs · Lower-fee Catholic girls option in Perth
St Michael's Collegiate School
Hobart, Hobart · Anglican · girls
Tasmania's longest-running Anglican girls school · Boarding for rural Tasmania · Strong music + drama programs
Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)
East Brisbane, Brisbane · Anglican · boys
GPS rugby + rowing + cricket · Strong music + concert band program · Boarding draws from regional QLD + PNG
Ivanhoe Grammar School
Ivanhoe, Melbourne · Anglican · co-educational
IB Diploma alongside VCE · Two campuses (Ivanhoe + Plenty) · Strong rowing + music programs
Trinity Grammar School
Summer Hill, Sydney · Anglican · boys
AAGPS rugby + rowing + sport · Award-winning chamber music + symphonic program · Inner west community focus
Loreto College Marryatville
Marryatville, Adelaide · Catholic (Loreto) · girls
Mary Ward Loreto Sisters tradition · Lower-fee Catholic girls option · Strong music + drama programs
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar (PEGS)
Essendon, Melbourne · Independent (non-denominational) · parallel learning
Parallel single-sex learning (boys + girls campuses) · Strong music + rowing programs · Western Melbourne campus
William Clarke College
Kellyville, Sydney · Anglican · co-educational
North-west Sydney Anglican co-ed · Kellyville campus · Strong music + drama programs
Ballarat Clarendon College
Ballarat Central, Melbourne · Uniting Church · co-educational
VCE state-leading academic outcomes for years · Regional VIC Uniting Church school · Strong sport + music programs
Genazzano FCJ College
Kew, Melbourne · Catholic (Faithful Companions of Jesus) · girls
Victoria's only Catholic all-girls boarding school (Hopetoun Hall) · Annual musical productions in partnership with Xavier College · Strong rowing program (Years 8-12) and GSV premierships in netball, tennis and basketball
Tintern Grammar
Ringwood East, Melbourne · Anglican · parallel learning
Parallel learning model (single-sex Years 5-9, co-ed Year 10-12) · Eastern Melbourne campus · Strong music + drama
St Paul's School Bald Hills
Bald Hills, Brisbane · Anglican · co-educational
North Brisbane Anglican co-ed school · Strong music + drama programs · Mid-fee Anglican option
How this list is ranked
Strong music programs typically feature: symphony orchestra (90+ players), 4+ concert bands, regular international tours, ABRSM/AMEB Grade 6+ scholarship entry, dedicated music school staff.
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