The Empowered to Excel Program
Empowered to Excel is a partnership program between Montgomery College (MC) and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) that offers talented MCPS high school instrumental music students the opportunity to play in the MC Symphony Orchestra and its other Empowered to Excel ensembles (such as, flute duets and string quartets), to be service leaders, and to earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours.

To Apply: Click Here for an Application (PDF file)

Frequently asked questions

• What are the goals of the program?
  To support the development of students who are pursuing artistic and academic excellence and to serve the community.
  
• Who plays in the Empowered to Excel program?
  Empowered to Excel brings together a unique group of talented musicians from MC and local high schools who play together with college faculty and professional performers (noted Washington, D.C., area performing artists) during weekly rehearsals and performances. This exciting mix of musical talent provides an unrivaled mentoring relationship for developing musicians.
  
• Who is eligible?
  To be eligible to audition, MCPS high school students must be enrolled in their home school instrumental music program.
  
• How are students selected?
  Students will audition for the MC Symphony Orchestra each semester they wish to participate. Results of the audition will be determined by the executive director of the program before the first rehearsal; results will be sent to you by e-mail, phone, and/or mail.

• What instruments are eligible to audition?
  Violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion, and harp.
  
• Can students register for this class and obtain college credit?
  Yes, accepted students can participate as non-registered or registered students. Non-registered students will not pay tuition or earn college credits. Registered students will apply for college admission and pay Montgomery College tuition for course MU 171. Upon successful completion of the one-semester course, they will receive one hour of college credit.

• How does the program foster the development of leadership skills?
  
  Empower to Excel students will:

• Attend required service leadership training seminars.
• Be recognized as “Young Service Leaders with Vision” by serving as small-group leaders/coaches for high school peers or students at their feeder schools.
• Submit to the executive director of the program a minimum two-page reflection essay describing what was learned through participating in the program.
• Earn SSL hours for appropriate volunteer activities associated with their participation. (Students will submit SSL hour verification forms and reflection essays to the program director to receive SSL hours.)
  
• What are our expectations of students?
  
• To respect the music, one another, and the music director/conductor and to rehearse in an atmosphere of focus and concentration, while still enjoying the experience.
• To fulfill all the course requirements of MU 171.
• To attend all rehearsals. Rehearsals are held at 7:00 p.m. every Monday night, in the Rehearsal Hall (MU 124) in the Music Building at the Rockville Campus. (Rehearsal dates for each concert will be provided at the first rehearsal for that concert. Students must attend all weekly rehearsals, unless the activity is designated a sectional rehearsal or is in preparation for a performance in which the student is not a participant. Because preparation time is always short, only one excused absence from a rehearsal is permitted for each concert.)
• To ensure performance quality, in cases involving more than one absence (either excused or unexcused), the music director/conductor may drop the student/musician from the concert.
• To be present at the dress rehearsals in order to perform in the concert.
• To prepare all music for a concert both by individual practicing and, as appropriate, through coaching by the student’s/musician’s applied teacher.
• To arrive at least five minutes before the rehearsal starting time of 7:00 p.m. with all music for that rehearsal and a pencil for marking the scores (no pens, please).
• To participate in formal public performances each semester (unless your section is not needed or you are not assigned to play in a piece or certain concert program).
• To arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time of each performance.

• When will auditions take place?
  Auditions will usually take place near the beginning of each Montgomery College semester. Please pay attention to media releases for audition dates. Additional auditions may be held at the discretion of the program director for applicants seeking admission after regular auditions.
  
• What are the audition requirements? Please click here for information.