The Viking Ensemble: Making Music and Careers with Experiential Learning
April, 2025
This fall, Diablo Valley College is buzzing with more than just students headed to class—it’s alive with music, collaboration, and career preparation, thanks to a unique experiential learning program: the Viking Ensemble Associate Fellow Program.
With support from DVC Foundation donors, six music students are selected each academic year to serve as Associate Fellows in this dynamic, student-led performance group. These students aren’t just playing music—they’re building their careers. From planning campus concerts and coordinating logistics with community partners, to rehearsing and performing at local nonprofits and DVC sponsor locations, these Fellows take on real-world responsibilities that mirror the creative and collaborative demands of professional life.
September, 2025
Under the guidance of music faculty mentors and seasoned industry professionals, the Viking Ensemble experience blends artistic growth with project management, event planning, and leadership training. Each Fellow receives a stipend—made possible through donor support—that allows them to focus on learning and performing, rather than balancing additional jobs or unrelated work-study roles.
“This experience helped me build confidence as a performer and a leader,” shared one participant. “It’s something I never would have had access to without the support of the Foundation and its donors.”
The Ensemble performs at least eight events per semester, infusing both the campus and community with live music and demonstrating what’s possible when education is paired with hands-on practice. These performances are more than concerts—they're proof points that student talent, when supported by opportunity, thrives.
And that’s exactly what DVC’s experiential learning mission is all about: preparing students for life beyond the classroom with experiences that make them career-ready, community-connected, and creatively inspired.
The Viking Ensemble is just one of many programs where your support makes a difference. Thank you for helping DVC students turn passion into purpose.