Music
Find your rhythm.
From contemporary rock bands to our world-renowned Virtuoso Program for string musicians, SD students develop a love of music through instruction in chorus, jazz, pop, strings, classical, composition, and more. The Music Conservatory includes 30 rehearsal studios, while our world class Carol Franc Buck Hall of the Arts provides students with unique opportunities for training, master classes, and public performance.
Studying music develops many of the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. Students learn to set high personal standards, problem-solve both individually and in a team, think creatively, and appreciate the relationship between commitment and achievement. We offer the nationally-recognized Virtuoso Program for string students who wish to explore a professional career in music, as well as a variety of music classes for students who seek to perform, produce and appreciate music in all of its forms.
The San Domenico Music Conservatory
The Conservatory at SD is home to our professional artist faculty, offering private and group instruction on piano, wind, string, percussion instruments, and voice in a broad spectrum of styles and a variety of ensembles, from chamber orchestra to a capella band. Our students have the unique opportunity to advance their musical knowledge during or after school, and enjoy the benefits of:
- studying with some of the top performing artist teachers in the Bay Area
- making use of our state-of-the-art-facilities and excellently maintained instruments
- performing regularly on stage in our acoustically engineered Hall of the Arts
- access to supervised practice rooms
Virtuoso Program
The nationally acclaimed pre-professional training program helps students explore their potential as string musicians through a rigorous academic and musical curriculum during their high school years.
![Vivaldi at San Domenico 2025]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1762384481/sandomenico/zim1zd9xemr9uzhndcjc/Vivaldi2025-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1762384481/sandomenico/zim1zd9xemr9uzhndcjc/Vivaldi2025-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1762384481/sandomenico/zim1zd9xemr9uzhndcjc/Vivaldi2025-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1762384481/sandomenico/zim1zd9xemr9uzhndcjc/Vivaldi2025-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
A Legacy in Harmony: Vivaldi Welcomes Back Virtuoso Alumni
The annual concert opens the season with joy, reflection, and reunion, celebrating 175 years of music and mentorship as former and current Virtuoso Program musicians share the stage once more.
Don't miss...
The annual concert opens the season with joy, reflection, and reunion, celebrating 175 years of music and mentorship as former and current Virtuoso Program musicians share the stage once more.
![Lower School Students Find Their Rhythm]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758300273/sandomenico/h8b9652ekqggoeddsknu/LSPercussion091925-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758300273/sandomenico/h8b9652ekqggoeddsknu/LSPercussion091925-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758300273/sandomenico/h8b9652ekqggoeddsknu/LSPercussion091925-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758300273/sandomenico/h8b9652ekqggoeddsknu/LSPercussion091925-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Through song, movement, and percussion, students learn not only technique but also teamwork, focus, and self-expression.
![Senior Honors and Young Talent: A Virtuoso Tradition]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1748905403/sandomenico/fytec1rzcvwbyahszyqy/All-SchoolOrchestraConcert052725-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1748905403/sandomenico/fytec1rzcvwbyahszyqy/All-SchoolOrchestraConcert052725-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1748905403/sandomenico/fytec1rzcvwbyahszyqy/All-SchoolOrchestraConcert052725-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1748905403/sandomenico/fytec1rzcvwbyahszyqy/All-SchoolOrchestraConcert052725-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Lower School strings students joined Upper School Virtuoso Program students for the triumphant conclusion to a year of musical excellence.
![Upper School Band Rocks the Phoenix Theater]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1748905914/sandomenico/bfeq8mlelbffc3apdhhm/USBandWorkshop-Phoenix-052425-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1748905914/sandomenico/bfeq8mlelbffc3apdhhm/USBandWorkshop-Phoenix-052425-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1748905914/sandomenico/bfeq8mlelbffc3apdhhm/USBandWorkshop-Phoenix-052425-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1748905914/sandomenico/bfeq8mlelbffc3apdhhm/USBandWorkshop-Phoenix-052425-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
The Band Workshop musicians brought soul, funk, and finesse to an unforgettable night on stage at Petaluma’s top music venue.
![Lights, Camera, Arts in Action!]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1748619568/sandomenico/ywp8etwhywocwyqhqqns/MSArtsInAction053025-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1748619568/sandomenico/ywp8etwhywocwyqhqqns/MSArtsInAction053025-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1748619568/sandomenico/ywp8etwhywocwyqhqqns/MSArtsInAction053025-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1748619568/sandomenico/ywp8etwhywocwyqhqqns/MSArtsInAction053025-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Middle Schoolers channel their inner rock stars, dance mavens, and method actors to dazzle the audience in an end-of-year virtuoso finale.
![VP Students Perform for San Domenico Community, from Newest to the Most Venerable]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1747167074/sandomenico/vevkjlzwvdcj6bhslkxp/VP-Concert-for-Sisters051325-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1747167074/sandomenico/vevkjlzwvdcj6bhslkxp/VP-Concert-for-Sisters051325-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1747167074/sandomenico/vevkjlzwvdcj6bhslkxp/VP-Concert-for-Sisters051325-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1747167074/sandomenico/vevkjlzwvdcj6bhslkxp/VP-Concert-for-Sisters051325-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
SD classical quartet delights new families in recent Virtuoso Program performances.
![Dorm News: Panthers Shine on Stage]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743181215/sandomenico/thoihqsa5sojwudqkhoo/DormNews-Sweetwater-032825-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743181215/sandomenico/thoihqsa5sojwudqkhoo/DormNews-Sweetwater-032825-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1743181215/sandomenico/thoihqsa5sojwudqkhoo/DormNews-Sweetwater-032825-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743181215/sandomenico/thoihqsa5sojwudqkhoo/DormNews-Sweetwater-032825-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Musicians, actors, and software coders put in the work and pumped out the joy!
![Raise Your Voice: SD Vocal Ensemble Shines at Santa Cruz Jazz Festival Debut]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1742502925/sandomenico/mlxg01a2wu6o6ajzibsh/RaiseYourVoice-032025-thmb2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1742502925/sandomenico/mlxg01a2wu6o6ajzibsh/RaiseYourVoice-032025-thmb2.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1742502925/sandomenico/mlxg01a2wu6o6ajzibsh/RaiseYourVoice-032025-thmb2.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1742502925/sandomenico/mlxg01a2wu6o6ajzibsh/RaiseYourVoice-032025-thmb2.jpg","width":810}])
Upper School singers impress seasoned adjudicators, stepping boldly onto a legendary West Coast jazz stage.
Meet the Team
At the heart of the Virtuoso Program is our exceptional music faculty, whose distinguished members are accomplished professional musicians from around the Bay Area. Students enjoy the privilege of studying closely under and being mentored by our faculty, as well as benefit from masterclasses with frequently visiting guest artists.
