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How many middle school all-county ensembles are there?
MCPS currently offers a Middle School All-County Band and Orchestra across 4 different regional ensembles, for a total of 8 groups.
How do I know which region I'm in?
The very bottom of this page lists all MCPS middle schools by region.
What makes it an "All-County" ensemble?
Students are selected to the Middle School All-County Bands & Orchestras each year through both a teacher-nomination and a regional virtual audition process. Each school instrumental music teacher can nominate students from their school to audition. Nominated students prepare the same audition materials, record a video of themselves performing the audition materials, upload that video to a classroom on MyMCPS Classroom (Canvas), and are scored by the same judges using a standard rubric. The audition is simply a check to ensure that students are musically ready for the demands of the ensemble, and also helps to determine the seating for the ensemble. Unless the audition raises any concerns, all nominated students will be invited to join the ensemble.!
The MCPS Middle School All-County Bands & Orchestras are self-funded performing ensembles that provide recognition to talented instrumental music students in grades 6-8. This program is 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 6-8, 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 nominated by their school instrumental music teacher.
4. have their caregiver’s approval.
Additionally, students selected to an 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 Middle School All-County Bands & Orchestras are open for student nominations on the following instruments:
Band
flute
oboe
bassoon
Bb clarinet
low clarinet (bass, contra alto, contra bass)
alto saxophone
tenor saxophone
baritone saxophone
trumpet/cornet
F horn
trombone
euphonium/baritone
tuba
percussion (note: students auditioning on percussion must show proficiency on both pitched and non-pitched instruments)
Orchestra
violin
viola
cello
bass
If the repertoire for an 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 these ensembles?
Our talented team of MCPS music educators run our countywide ensembles. You can view the staff for each ensemble here (updated info for 25-26 will be available in September).
Additionally, all ensembles are supported by Phil Barnes, MCPS Coordinator of Instrumental Music & Theatre.
Where can I find the audition information?
If you are interested in being nominated for one of these ensembles, you can view the music that you'll need to audition with for final acceptance into the ensembles here. Please speak to your school instrumental music teacher to find out about the process they will use to nominate students for the ensembles. If you are nominated, you will complete your audition virtually.
How do I audition?
Once your school's instrumental music teacher has nominated you, they will share with you a link to register for the Canvas classroom to upload your audition video.
There is no audition fee for the Middle School All-County Bands & Orchestras!
Students must submit their audition videos via Canvas by 5:00pm on Friday, December 5. No late audition videos will be accepted!
Once I've been nominated and I register, 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 recording your video 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?
If you are nominated, you will record a video of yourself performing the audition music, and you will upload that video to the Canvas classroom that your ensemble. (Your instrumental music teacher will help you access the Canvas classroom after you are nominated.)
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.
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 $35.00 ensemble fee for the Middle School All-County Bands & Orchestras, 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 Middle School All-County Bands & Orchestras will begin the week of January 5, and the ensemble rehearses once per week on Thursday evenings (January 8, January 15, January 22, January 29, and February 5). Makeup rehearsals due to inclement weather will be on Tuesdays. The exact rehearsal schedule can be found in the materials you receive after you are nominated. The ensembles will perform throughout the week of February 9: Northwest region on Monday, February 9; Northeast region on Tuesday, February 10; Southeast region on Wednesday, February 11; and Southwest region on Thursday, February 12. Performances will take place at MCPS schools within each region.
Students selected for the Middle School All-County Bands & Orchestras 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.
Regions for 2025-2026
Northwest Region
John T. Baker
Roberto Clemente
Gaithersburg
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Kingsview
Lakelands Park
Montgomery Village
Neelsville
John Poole
Ridgeview
Rocky Hill
Hallie Wells
Northeast Region
Briggs Chaney
William H. Farquhar
Forest Oak
Rosa M. Parks
Redland
Shady Grove
Julius West
Earle B. Wood
Southeast Region
Argyle
Benjamin Banneker
Eastern
Francis Scott Key
A. Mario Loiederman
Newport Mill
Parkland
Odessa Shannon
Silver Creek
Silver Spring International
Sligo
Takoma Park
White Oak
Southwest Region
Cabin John
Robert Frost
Herbert Hoover
North Bethesda
Thomas W. Pyle
Tilden
Westland
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