Last Updated on September 30, 2026
Quick answer: Music extracurriculars show leadership when you take on responsibility, not just a seat in the ensemble. Serve as section leader, drum major, or music librarian, organize a benefit concert, help manage a tour, or found your own group. Colleges value the initiative and impact behind these roles more than participation alone.
How to Show Leadership Through Music Extracurriculars
Many high school students are usually primarily focused on their GPA, SAT scores, and AP tests. However, colleges aren’t just looking for high numbers; they want unique and interesting students. A fantastic way to make yourself look more appealing to colleges is through extracurriculars. [1] Extracurriculars can cover a wide range of topics. Some students participate in Spanish Club or Robotics, while some may focus more on community outreach groups. Some are more musically inclined and find themselves choosing between music and more academically oriented clubs. If you’re in the latter group, you may be wondering about how to show leadership through music extracurriculars.
The good news is that even if you’re not applying for a music degree, music extracurriculars not only look fantastic on a college application, they also offer you a chance to demonstrate your leadership abilities. For engineers and architects, a music extracurricular can also set you apart from other applicants by showing creativity and artistry. This article outlines a few ways through which you can take your involvement in music one step further and grow into a leader.
Leadership Roles Within Your Ensemble
The most direct way to lead is inside the group you already belong to. These roles give you real responsibility and show colleges that your director and fellow musicians trust you.
Section Leader
Whether you’re in orchestra, band, or chorus, you will likely have the opportunity to audition for section leader. Section leaders may have the chance to lead section rehearsals, they are responsible for writing down and sharing musical directions with the rest of the section, and they often help other members of their section with difficult musical passages.
Leading a section not only shows colleges your leadership abilities, but it also shows you can work well with others, are organized, and are responsible.
Music Librarian
If you’re looking for music extracurriculars that utilize organizational skills, this role may be perfect for you. Not all high school music groups have a music librarian position, but if you like organizing, it’s worth asking your teacher to create a position for you. In professional orchestras and choirs, the music librarian keeps track of a large number of scores, ensuring they are organized and easily accessible.
They also prepare scores for the ensemble before a first rehearsal so that each member has a copy. [2] Some music librarians also research composers and find new editions for the ensemble.
In a high school or youth ensemble, a music librarian won’t have as much responsibility as someone with a college degree. However, your teacher could ask you to prepare copies for everyone to take home with them, ensure that each stand has all the correct music before class begins, and check that everyone has their music before each performance.
In addition to showing leadership qualities, being your ensemble’s music librarian will demonstrate that you are responsible and able to commit to a year-long position.
Drum Major
At every football game, the marching band plays an integral part. In addition to the hours of practice, one of the key things keeping the marching band together is the drum major. They’re responsible for keeping the whole band in time, giving commands to maintain the elaborate marches, and sometimes telling the band what piece to play next.
Drum Major is a huge responsibility, and colleges know that. You’ll show leadership on and off the field and will often be the first person that younger students will come to with questions or concerns, since you are acting as a liaison between the band conductor and the students.
Drum Majors also must gain the trust of their fellow band members, a mark of true leadership.
Peer Mentor
Many ensembles pair experienced players with newer members. Offer to coach younger students in your section, run a sectional before a concert, or lead a weekly practice group for students preparing for all-state or regional auditions. Mentoring shows patience and communication skills, and it creates a clear, measurable impact: the students you work with improve. If your school has a feeder program at a middle school, ask your director whether you can help with rehearsals there.
Leadership Roles You Create Yourself
Some of the most memorable music extracurriculars are ones students build from scratch. Creating a new role or event shows initiative, and it gives you a concrete result to describe on your application. Start small, involve friends who share your goals, and keep track of what you accomplish.
Event Organizer
Even if you don’t play a musical instrument or if you only sing in the shower, you can still show leadership through music extracurriculars. If you love listening to music, you can perhaps organize a band benefit event.
An event like this requires organizational skills, leadership qualities, and teamwork to pull off. You can also help your favorite charitable cause in the process.
To set up a band benefit, you’ll probably want to work with (or create your own) community service club at school, or collaborate with your church or a local arts organization. Pick a cause you want to support and work with your principal to set a date for the event.
Then, you’ll need to find the bands. Many local bands, particularly ones with other students, will play band benefits as long as they can sell their merchandise. Try to find one relatively well-known headliner band (don’t worry, you don’t need to get Lady Gaga) that will attract crowds.
Once you’ve booked all the bands, announce the date, start selling tickets, and do some marketing. Finally, after the event, you can donate the money to your cause.
Organizing a band benefit can take a lot of time and effort, but colleges will recognize that. It showcases your leadership abilities in multiple ways. You have to collaborate and take the lead with the venue, whether that’s your school or somewhere else, and the bands. You also need to connect with the charity you’re donating to and take charge of the money to ensure it’s all accounted for.
Tour Manager
If you’re in show choir, it’s likely your group has several trips planned to show choir competitions across the country. Orchestras and bands also often participate in competitions or go on tours. Ask your director if you can be a tour manager for one or more of these trips.
A professional tour manager is responsible for booking accommodation, transportation, finding venues for performing, and making sure every ensemble member is comfortable. A student tour manager won’t need to take on all of that, but you can help your director.
Often, student tour managers take charge of the other students while on tour, allowing the director to focus on liaising with hotels and venues. This could involve taking roll calls, making sure everyone has their music and costumes, and passing out a schedule for the day.
Colleges like leaders that also show initiative. By approaching your director and creating the role of tour manager, you show that you understand what needs to be done for a successful tour and that you can work well with others and are exceptionally organized.
These are only a few examples of how you can show leadership through music extracurriculars. If none of these appeals to you, consider starting your own string quartet, organizing a concert for you and your friends to show off your music-making skills, or starting a podcast online.
Music allows you to express the creative side of yourself, and colleges like students with more than one dimension. In addition, there are many ways within music extracurriculars that help you gain leadership experience and impress colleges with your abilities.
How to Present Music Extracurriculars on Your College Application
Once you have taken on a leadership role, make sure admissions readers can see it. The Common App lets you list up to ten activities, with 50 characters for your position or leadership description and 150 characters for details, honors, and accomplishments. [3] Use that space for specifics: the size of the section you led, the number of performances you organized, or the amount of music you catalogued. Our guide to optimizing your activities list shows how to make every character count.
If you have reached an advanced level as a performer or composer, consider submitting an optional arts supplement. Harvard, for example, notes that supplementary materials such as music recordings may be evaluated by faculty at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, and it accepts recordings through SlideRoom. [4] Check each college’s instructions, since requirements and deadlines vary.
Finally, connect your music to the rest of your story. A section leader who mentors younger players, or a student who organizes benefit concerts for a local cause, can write about those experiences in an essay or short answer. For more ideas, read about why leadership experience matters in college applications and how to make your extracurriculars memorable.
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