Lakelands Park Middle School music department needs some work and resources. Quince Orchard High School has a pretty good music and theater program. There are two options for orchestra depending on your capability. There are 3 options for band and choir. There's also a music theory course. The music teachers seem committed to the students and to producing outstanding performances. Theater does well, but the main director plays favorites, seems more concerned with her wants, the time commitment for students is insane, isn't as well organized as it could be, and costs about $200. If your plan is to have your child do theater, don't plan on doing anything else. If your kid has skills or potential serious skills, I recommend private lessons. No public school teacher in this area can dedicate the time necessary to each child to help them be rock stars.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know why chorus in MCPS doesn't start until 4th? I'm used to it starting in K or 1st elsewhere in the country.

We don’t even have chorus at our ES. I always wonder why. We are in the Wootton cluster.

Too focused on academics? Our es had chorus and instruments starting at 4th grade

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know why chorus in MCPS doesn't start until 4th? I'm used to it starting in K or 1st elsewhere in the country.

We don’t even have chorus at our ES. I always wonder why. We are in the Wootton cluster.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids went thru Moco ES, MS and HS and they graduated in 2025.

At no point did I find a strong music / performing arts program either within the school system, or outside of it.

The DMV is sorely lacking this kind of culture. If it is something you genuinely need for your child, consider relocating to NYC or LA

You did not look then. MCYO, Kennedy Center, PVYO, the one in VA I’m forgetting the name, YAA, Strathmore Choir and a few others.

like I said, total lack of culture in the DMV
all those programs suck

They don’t suck, and you are just slamming them because your kids did not get in.

Hon, I think this was sarcasm aimed at the person who said that there were no decent music options even outside school programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids went thru Moco ES, MS and HS and they graduated in 2025.

At no point did I find a strong music / performing arts program either within the school system, or outside of it.

The DMV is sorely lacking this kind of culture. If it is something you genuinely need for your child, consider relocating to NYC or LA

You did not look then. MCYO, Kennedy Center, PVYO, the one in VA I’m forgetting the name, YAA, Strathmore Choir and a few others.

like I said, total lack of culture in the DMV
all those programs suck

They don’t suck, and you are just slamming them because your kids did not get in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids went thru Moco ES, MS and HS and they graduated in 2025.

At no point did I find a strong music / performing arts program either within the school system, or outside of it.

The DMV is sorely lacking this kind of culture. If it is something you genuinely need for your child, consider relocating to NYC or LA

You did not look then. MCYO, Kennedy Center, PVYO, the one in VA I’m forgetting the name, YAA, Strathmore Choir and a few others.

like I said, total lack of culture in the DMV
all those programs suck

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids went thru Moco ES, MS and HS and they graduated in 2025.

At no point did I find a strong music / performing arts program either within the school system, or outside of it.

The DMV is sorely lacking this kind of culture. If it is something you genuinely need for your child, consider relocating to NYC or LA

Sounds like you failed your kids.

Yeah, I so completely failed them. hahahahahahahahahaha.
Thanks for the most hilarious suggestion.

It all depends on the vision of the current principal. My 4 children attended our lower elementary neighborhood school where they participated in a ukelele club, recorder group, musicals and chorus. This was 15 years ago.
The teacher is the same, however the current administrator has canceled all the programs.
The PTA had donated a lot of money for the stage from drop microphones to high quality drapes… but alas, that was demolished too.
It now serves as an extension of the cafeteria with only 1 table and a lot of empty space.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Einstein HS - five curricular instrumental music ensembles, marching band, pep band and a pit orchestra for their musicals. Mr. Casement is a fantastic teacher.

When the theatre program
Moves to Northwood, will there still be a need for a live pit orchestra at Einstein?

MCPS leaders really mucked this up.

Einstein STAGE will stay at Einstein. Northwood theatre program isn’t as strong as Einstein. I would argue that Einstein has the strongest theatre program in the county. Einstein parents are just modest about the gem that’s in their community.

The band was way more impressive at the Einstein open house this year than the theatre scene was.

The theater teacher is far more involved and doing way more than music is.

Anonymous wrote:Our kids went thru Moco ES, MS and HS and they graduated in 2025.

At no point did I find a strong music / performing arts program either within the school system, or outside of it.

The DMV is sorely lacking this kind of culture. If it is something you genuinely need for your child, consider relocating to NYC or LA

Sounds like you failed your kids.

Anonymous wrote:Our kids went thru Moco ES, MS and HS and they graduated in 2025.

At no point did I find a strong music / performing arts program either within the school system, or outside of it.

The DMV is sorely lacking this kind of culture. If it is something you genuinely need for your child, consider relocating to NYC or LA

You did not look then. MCYO, Kennedy Center, PVYO, the one in VA I’m forgetting the name, YAA, Strathmore Choir and a few others.