\How did a group of Washington, DC high school singers overcome the challenge of preparing and participating in a prestigious international classical music competition in Vienna, Austria? This memoir follows the life and 30-year DC Public Schools career of honored educator Joyce Garrett who founded the "Excellence Without Excuses" program, using choral music to teach the values of perseverance, self-discipline, teamwork, loyalty, high achievement, and higher education. This book chronicles how she inspired her students to reach beyond their immediate grasps, lead purposeful lives, and fulfill their dreams.