A group of musicians, mostly young women, play violins and violas in an orchestra. They are seated on stage, focused on their music, and dressed in black performance attire.

Music

Our students approach music as something to experience, appreciate, and create. Whether singing with classmates, performing on stage, or exploring a new instrument, they
develop fluency and confidence in the language of music. Through active participation and collaboration, students have opportunities to perform and share their talents throughout their time at St. Anne’s-Belfield.

  • 100%All students age 2 – Grade 8 participate in the arts
  • 90%Upper School students appear on or behind a stage each year

Music & Theatre in the Lower School

Our Music & Movement program is based on the Orff-Schulwerk approach to music education. This approach is characterized by the inclusion of all students in ensemble work; the unity of music, movement, and speech; the emphasis on process teaching; and the prominence of the student’s voice as the centerpiece of all lessons. Details on offerings may be found in the Lower School Curriculum Guide.

A group of children on stage hold up bright blue fabric above their heads, participating in a performance. They appear focused and are dressed in dark shirts, with warm lighting in the background.
Three young musicians playing violins in a music orchestra.

Music in the Middle School

All students in Grades 5 take strings and, music & movement. In Grade 6, students choose a focus in either orchestra or choir. The arts program in the Grades 7 and 8 provides an opportunity for students to focus on one area of the arts more exclusively. Students may choose to excel in the string orchestra, choir, theater arts, or specific visual arts media. Details on offerings may be found in the Middle School Curriculum Guide.

I love my choir class. We have such a wide range of students — kids on the football team, volleyball players, kids who have never done the musical before. Here at St. Anne’s, everyone is super supportive of what you want to do, and the teachers are here to help with that.
A young woman speaking into a microphone on a stage. Amalie Hendricks ’26 Alum

Music in the Upper School

Students in Grades 9 – 12 have the ability to specialize in learning the advanced techniques of choir or orchestra, and expand their knowledge of music as a whole through one of our music theory courses. Details on offerings may be found in the Upper School Curriculum Guide.

Three young women stand side by side, singing into microphones on stage. They all wear black dresses and are illuminated by stage lights, with a neutral-colored background behind them.

Upper School 2026-27 Performing Arts Offerings

  • Concert Choir
  • Honors Saints Chorale
  • Philiharmonic (Orchestra)
  • Honors Counterpoints (Orchestra)
  • Introduction to Guitar
  • Introduction to Piano
  • Songwriting
  • Music Theory
  • Intermediate Music Theory
  • AP Music Theory
  • Music Lab

Co-Curricular and Extra Curricular Opportunities

  • Elements of Sound A Capella Group *
  • Fall Play *
  • Winter Musical *
  • Various Student-Run Clubs

* Audition based

Did you know…

Our Upper School has a recording studio! Students in Grades 9 – 12 are able to take Audio Engineering 1 and 2 to learn the techniques used in recording, mixing, and producing audio content.

Students get hands-on experience with studio equipment, learn about signal flow and audio processing, and explore the various applications of audio engineering in music, film, television, and other industries.

Two people sit in a recording studio; one operates a digital audio mixing console while the other observes. A large monitor displays audio tracks and editing software in a modern, professional school setting.

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