Jr Honors Orchestra

How many honors orchestras are there?
MCPS offers one Honors Orchestra. The Junior Honors Orchestra is for students in grades 7-9.

What makes it an "Honors" ensemble?
Students are selected to MCPS Honors ensembles each year through a blind audition process. Eligible students prepare the same audition materials, audition on the same date and at the same location, and are scored by the same judges using a standard rubric. Students with the highest audition scores are invited to join the ensemble. 

The MCPS Honors Ensembles are self-funded performing ensembles that provide recognition to talented instrumental music students in grades 7-12. These programs are designed to supplement the school music programs by providing talented and motivated students with a special enrichment performance opportunity.

Who is eligible to audition?
In order to be eligible to audition, students must:
1. be in grades 7-9, a Montgomery County resident, and enrolled in a Montgomery County Public School.
2. be enrolled in an instrumental music class for the current school year.
3. be recommended by their school instrumental music teacher.
4. have their caregiver’s approval.

Additionally, students selected to the ensemble are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. Students who miss any rehearsals or performances may be removed from the ensemble. So please be sure to check the rehearsal and performance schedules before you register to audition!

At this time, the MCPS Junior Honors Orchestra is open for student auditions on the following instruments:
violin
viola
cello
bass

If the repertoire for the ensemble requires the use of any additional instruments, the conductor of the ensemble will determine placement for those parts before or during the first rehearsal of the ensemble.

Who is in charge of this ensemble for the 25-26 school year?
Our talented team of MCPS music educators run our countywide ensembles. This year, we are excited to have the following teachers working with the Junior Honors Orchestra:

• Conductor: Patrick Fowler, Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS

• Assistant Conductor & Manager: Alex Conti, Forest Oak MS

Additionally, all ensembles are supported by Phil Barnes, MCPS Coordinator of Instrumental Music & Theatre.

Where can I find the audition information?
Here are some links to help you navigate the audition process:
Caregiver Letter (Link will be provided for 25-26 in September)
Audition Requirements (Link will be provided for 25-26 in September)

Junior Honors Orchestra auditions will be held at Col Zadok Magruder High School (5939 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD) on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.  We are unable to accommodate alternate audition dates/times/locations, or virtual auditions. If your child has a religious conflict, please let your instrumental music teacher know as soon as possible. 

Student auditions run from 6:00pm until 9:30pm. More specific time blocks will be sent to school instrumental music teachers approximately 1 week before the audition night. 

How do I register to audition?
Just complete this form: (25-26 form will be available in September)
Students will need to log into their MCPS Google account in order to access the form, and then have a caregiver complete the form for them.

After you complete the form, be sure to follow the link on the confirmation page to pay the $5.50 audition fee via the MCPS SchoolCash Online (SCO) system. Students who have not prepaid the audition fee will not be permitted to audition. If there is a concern with paying the audition fee, please let your school's instrumental music teacher know as soon as possible.

Please be sure to identify who you are when paying your audition fees on the SchoolCash Online system. This usually requires you to uncheck a box so you can type in the name of the student associated with the payment.

The registration form will open by noon on Monday, October 6, and the deadline to register is 5:00pm on Friday, October 24. No late registrations will be accepted!

Once I've registered, how do I prepare for the audition?
First and most importantly, be sure to review the audition requirements and begin practicing! You should plan to meet with your instrumental music teacher at least once before the auditions to play through the audition music for feedback. If you have a private teacher, be sure to spend some time on the audition material with them as well! But your school's instrumental music teacher is going to be your best resource to help you prepare for the audition.

What does the audition process look like?
When you arrive at the audition site, you will need to stop at the registration table to check in. The check-in table is usually in the main lobby or the auditorium lobby of the school. When you check in you'll receive an index card with your audition number. It's very important to hold on to this card until you finish your audition, and that you check in before registration closes! 

After you check in you will be directed to the warmup area. The warmup area is usually a large room in the school such as the auditorium or cafeteria. You may have anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour (or more) to wait in the warmup area for your turn to audition. You can use that time to warmup and practice. However, we typically do not provide any kind of musical equipment in the warmup area, and we do not provide any instruments for the auditions. Plan to bring your own instruments and bows, as well as your own music stand.

Once it is your turn to audition, your audition number will be called. Be sure to be listening/watching for your number! We will have several audition rooms running simultaneously, and things may seem chaotic. But we call all audition numbers sequentially, so if you pay attention you can get a good idea of when you will be pulled from the warmup area to audition. 

When your number is called, report to the front of the room to meet your guide. You only need to bring with you what you need for the audition room (your instrument, bow, and music). Leave everything else, including cases and stands, in the warmup area. The guide will escort you from the warmup area to your audition room. Once you get to your audition room, you will probably have to wait outside the room for a few minutes for the students ahead of you to finish auditioning. While waiting it's important to stay quiet and not play, so that you don't disturb anyone else's audition.

When it's your turn to audition, the student helper in the room will invite you in. The helper will take your audition card and give it to the judges. (In some cases we utilize multiple audition rooms in order to get through larger numbers of students. If you have to audition in multiple rooms, they will take your card in the final room.) The judges will be behind a screen to keep the audition anonymous. In order to protect the integrity of the blind audition process, it's important that you do not talk to the judges, and that you keep your voice lowered when speaking to the student helper! If you have a question or concern, you should whisper it to the student helper, who will then pass it along to the judges. You will perform the audition as outlined in the audition requirements document, and the student helper will direct you through everything. The audition evaluation criteria can be found in the caregiver letter.

After you finish your audition, the student helper will help you out of the room. Wait quietly in the hallway for a guide to escort you back to the warmup area. Once you are back in the warmup area, you are free to pack up and leave. Just be sure you take everything that you brought with you! You do not need to check out at the registration table.

How will I know if I made the ensemble?
After the auditions are complete, the staff for the ensemble will review the audition results and determine the final roster for the ensemble. Once the roster has been finalized, the Instrumental Music Coordinator will email it to all MCPS Instrumental Music teachers, who will then share it with their students. This process usually takes about a week.

Depending on what the audition results look like, we may choose to select alternates for the ensemble. Alternates scored high enough on their audition to be considered for the ensemble, but did not make the final roster. If something happens with a student in the ensemble that causes them to be removed from the ensemble, then the alternate will be contacted to take that student's place. If you have more questions about alternates please ask your school's instrumental music teacher.

If I make the ensemble, what happens next?
If you are selected to the ensemble, your instrumental music teacher will share some more materials with you, including a welcome letter and information on how to accept your spot in the ensemble and how to pay your ensemble fee. MCPS charges a $55.00 ensemble fee for the Junior Honors Orchestra, which covers things such as staff stipends, your music, and facility expenses. If there is a concern with paying the ensemble fee, please let your school's instrumental music teacher know as soon as possible. But there is usually a very quick turnaround for you to accept your spot and pay your fee.

Please be sure to identify who you are when paying your ensemble fees on the SchoolCash Online system. This usually requires you to uncheck a box so you can type in the name of the student associated with the payment.

Rehearsals for the Junior Honors Orchestra will begin the week of January 5, and the ensemble rehearses once per week on Tuesday evenings (January 6, January 13, January 20, January 27, and February 3). Makeup rehearsals due to inclement weather will be on Thursdays. The ensemble has its final dress rehearsal on Friday, February 6. The exact rehearsal schedule can be found in the caregiver letter. The ensemble will perform along with the Junior Honors Band, Senior Honors Band, and Senior All-County Orchestra at the MCPS Instrumental Gala Concert on Saturday, February 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m. at Seneca Valley High School. 

Students selected for the Junior Honors Orchestra are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances.

What if I have other questions?
Start by asking your school's instrumental music teacher! They are always your best source for information on MCPS countywide ensembles. If they can't answer your question, they will follow up with someone who can.