The Rivers School Conservatory was founded in 1975 when The New England Conservatory of Music closed all of the suburban branches of its preparatory school, including its Wellesley school. The displaced families from Wellesley, Weston, and Wayland convinced Ethel Bernard, one of the pioneers of the music school movement, to establish a music school committed to excellence in music education and performance.

Ethel Bernard approached The Rivers School with the idea of founding a music school in the unoccupied former headmaster’s house on the campus of the then all-boys college preparatory school. First called The Music School at Rivers, The Rivers School Conservatory has been one of the nation’s leading community music conservatories ever since.

Directors, The Rivers School Conservatory
Lindsey Robb, interim, 2023-
Gabriella Sanna, 2018-2023
David J. Tierney, 1996-2018
A. Ramon Rivera, 1984-1995
Richard Robbins, 1976-1984
Ethel Bernard, founder, 1975