Music at Westtown is exciting and rewarding. Students have the chance to explore and refine their musical aspirations through class offerings in Music History, Music Appreciation, Music Theory, performing ensembles and Private Lessons.The performing ensembles include the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Symphonic Band, Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble. Students also have the opportunity to perform in the "pit" orchestra for the Upper School Musical as their winter c0-curricular.
There are also a number of smaller groups, clarinet choir, flute choir, string quartet and always a variety of student bands. Private lessons are available on any orchestral instrument, voice, guitar and piano here at school. Students taking lessons have access to numerous performance opportunities including concerts, recitals, Wednesday Night Community Dinner and Friday Nights in the Belfry.
The Barton-Test Theater has exemplary acoustics, ample stage size and a Steinway Concert Grand Piano. The lower level of the ArtsCenter has nine practice rooms for individual practice.Using the Korg Triton Workstation and Digi002, Digidesign's first FireWire-enabled Pro Tools workstation, students can sample, sequence and digitally record combinations of digital and analog sounds to create their own music and professionally record their performances.
Recent visiting artists who gave performances and master classes include: Philadelphia Orchestra Timpanist Don Liuzzi, percussionist Toni Vacca, jazz pianist Terri Klinefelter, Boston Symphony Orchestra flautist Fenwick Smith, the saxophone quartet Habana Sax from Cuba, The Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Indian mrudangam virtuoso Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, jazz violinist John Blake, jazz saxophonist Chris Farr, and Percussion Duo Selah.