P. Bailey Sorton was a Presser Scholar at Appalachian State University where she received a Bachelor of Music degree magna cum laude. She earned her Master of Music Education degree from James Madison University. Mrs. Sorton is a founding member of OBOHIO, The Double Reed Consort, in which she plays oboe d'amore. With OBOHIO, she has performed numerous recitals in the United States, Canada and Europe.

As a chamber music performer, she performs with the Winds of Wintegreen and WindWorks. She is English hornist of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Principal Oboe of the Land of Legend Philharmonic Orchestra, Second Oboe and English horn of the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra and is former Principal Oboe of several orchestras in North Carolina and Virginia. She has performed with the Columbus Symphony, BalletMet, Opera/Columbus, the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, the Winston-Salem Symphony, Opera Roanoke and the Eastern Music Festival. After previously serving as the Managing Director of Wintergreen Performing Arts, she is currently the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival Orchestra Manager.

Mrs. Sorton has taught and coached at the Roanoke Youth Symphony Summer Institute since 1985. She taught oboe at Wake Forest University and instrumental music in private and public schools in North Carolina. She currently teaches oboe and coaches chamber music at Kenyon College and teaches oboe at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Mrs. Sorton has recorded with OBOHIO and the Roanoke Symphony.