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.

The Education Desk · Editorial team, schools + fertility + family services · Updated 13 May 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards
1

Abbotsleigh

Wahroonga, Sydney · Anglican · girls

ICSEA 1217 $42k Y12 Median ATAR 93.9 13% ATAR 99+

Consistently top HSC results among Sydney girls' schools · Strong music and choral program · Sister school to Knox Grammar (joint events)

2

Brisbane Grammar School

Spring Hill, Brisbane · Independent (non-denominational) · boys

ICSEA 1212 $36k Y12 Median ATAR 95 17% ATAR 99+

Top NAPLAN numeracy results in QLD · GPS sport powerhouse · Strong music + debating tradition

3

Reddam House

Bondi, Sydney · Independent (non-denominational) · co-educational

ICSEA 1188 $38k Y12

Modern co-ed eastern suburbs · Strong music + drama + visual arts · Personalised learning pathways

4

Camberwell Grammar School

Canterbury, Melbourne · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1185 $44k Y12 Median ATAR 91.45 13% ATAR 99+

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

5

St Peters Lutheran College

Indooroopilly, Brisbane · Lutheran · co-educational

ICSEA 1183 $26k Y12

IB Diploma + AC Senior pathways · Largest Lutheran co-ed school in QLD · Strong music conservatorium and outdoor ed (Crows Nest)

6

Carey Baptist Grammar School

Kew, Melbourne · Baptist · co-educational

ICSEA 1182 $43k Y12

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

7

Melbourne Grammar School

South Yarra, Melbourne · Anglican · boys (co-ed Prep-Year 6)

ICSEA 1180 $46k Y12 Median ATAR 92.55 15% ATAR 99+

28-time Head of the River rowing champions · Internationally touring symphony orchestra · Strong VCE results, median ATAR consistently 90+

8

Ravenswood School for Girls

Gordon, Sydney · Uniting Church · girls

ICSEA 1179 $42k Y12 Median ATAR 92.3

IB World School (PYP and Diploma) · Award-winning STEM and design programs · Strong music and dance co-curricular

9

Trinity Grammar School (Summer Hill)

Summer Hill, Sydney · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1170 $48k Y12

Strong music program (one of largest school music programs in Australia) · AAGPS sport member with strong rugby and rowing · Field studies centre at Woollamia

10

John XXIII College

Mount Claremont, Perth · Catholic (Jesuit + Loreto) · co-educational

ICSEA 1167 $15k Y12

Joint Jesuit + Loreto Sisters foundation · Strong music + drama programs · Mid-fee Catholic co-ed in Perth west

11

Brisbane Boys' College

Toowong, Brisbane · Independent (Presbyterian and Uniting Church) · boys

ICSEA 1164 $33k Y12

GPS sport (rugby, rowing, cricket) · Strong cadet + outdoor education · Robust music and pipe band tradition

12

Stuartholme School

Toowong, Brisbane · Catholic (Society of the Sacred Heart) · girls

ICSEA 1163 $23k Y12

Sacred Heart Madeleine Sophie Barat tradition · Largest girls' boarding school in QLD · Strong music + drama programs

13

Trinity Grammar School Kew

Kew, Melbourne · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1158 $38k Y12

APS sport (rowing, cricket, football) · Strong music + concert band program · Eastern Melbourne campus

14

Lowther Hall Anglican Girls Grammar

Essendon, Melbourne · Anglican · girls

ICSEA 1156 $25k Y12 Median ATAR 85

Western Melbourne Anglican girls school · Strong music + drama programs · Mid-fee Anglican option

15

Somerset College

Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast · Independent (non-denominational) · co-educational

ICSEA 1155 $22k Y12

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

16

Westminster School Adelaide

Marion, Adelaide · Uniting Church · co-educational

ICSEA 1152 $22k Y12

South Adelaide Uniting Church co-ed · Strong music + sport programs · Boarding house draws from regional SA + interstate

17

Methodist Ladies' College Perth

Claremont, Perth · Independent (Uniting Church / Methodist heritage) · girls

ICSEA 1149 $34k Y12

~90 boarders from regional WA · Top-ranked TEE/ATAR historical performance · IGSSA sport + strong music

18

Penrhos College

Como, Perth · Uniting Church · girls

ICSEA 1148 $22k Y12

Mid-fee Uniting Church girls school · Strong music + drama programs · Boarding for regional WA families

19

Iona Presentation College

Mosman Park, Perth · Catholic (Presentation) · girls

ICSEA 1148 $15k Y12

Presentation Sisters Nano Nagle tradition · Strong music + drama programs · Lower-fee Catholic girls option in Perth

20

St Michael's Collegiate School

Hobart, Hobart · Anglican · girls

ICSEA 1147 $20k Y12

Tasmania's longest-running Anglican girls school · Boarding for rural Tasmania · Strong music + drama programs

21

Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)

East Brisbane, Brisbane · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1142 $25k Y12

GPS rugby + rowing + cricket · Strong music + concert band program · Boarding draws from regional QLD + PNG

22

Ivanhoe Grammar School

Ivanhoe, Melbourne · Anglican · co-educational

ICSEA 1140 $30k Y12 Median ATAR 88.85

IB Diploma alongside VCE · Two campuses (Ivanhoe + Plenty) · Strong rowing + music programs

23

Trinity Grammar School

Summer Hill, Sydney · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1138 $36k Y12

AAGPS rugby + rowing + sport · Award-winning chamber music + symphonic program · Inner west community focus

24

Loreto College Marryatville

Marryatville, Adelaide · Catholic (Loreto) · girls

ICSEA 1138 $15k Y12

Mary Ward Loreto Sisters tradition · Lower-fee Catholic girls option · Strong music + drama programs

25

Penleigh and Essendon Grammar (PEGS)

Essendon, Melbourne · Independent (non-denominational) · parallel learning

ICSEA 1138 $26k Y12

Parallel single-sex learning (boys + girls campuses) · Strong music + rowing programs · Western Melbourne campus

26

William Clarke College

Kellyville, Sydney · Anglican · co-educational

ICSEA 1138 $22k Y12

North-west Sydney Anglican co-ed · Kellyville campus · Strong music + drama programs

27

Ballarat Clarendon College

Ballarat Central, Melbourne · Uniting Church · co-educational

ICSEA 1132 $22k Y12 Median ATAR 90.3

VCE state-leading academic outcomes for years · Regional VIC Uniting Church school · Strong sport + music programs

28

Genazzano FCJ College

Kew, Melbourne · Catholic (Faithful Companions of Jesus) · girls

ICSEA 1131

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

29

Tintern Grammar

Ringwood East, Melbourne · Anglican · parallel learning

ICSEA 1130 $26k Y12

Parallel learning model (single-sex Years 5-9, co-ed Year 10-12) · Eastern Melbourne campus · Strong music + drama

30

St Paul's School Bald Hills

Bald Hills, Brisbane · Anglican · co-educational

ICSEA 1130 $15k Y12

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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