Round Rock High School Orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall March 11, 2022
The city of Round Rock sits 26 miles north of Austin, the Texas state capitol, along the famed Chisholm Trail, which crosses scenic Brushy Creek at a shallow spot marked by the city’s namesake round table rock. Echoing the city’s transformation from dusty frontier settlement to bustling high-tech home of Dell Computers, the high school opened in 1867 as a private school, became a public high school in 1913 and is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2013.
Round Rock High School supports over 180 string instrument players in five outstanding ensembles and 350 band students in five ensembles. Several members participate in acclaimed orchestra/band programs outside the school, including the Texas Music Educators Association Region and State orchestras and bands, Austin Youth Orchestra, Central Texas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Williamson County Orchestra. The orchestra rehearses with Round Rock Band members to make two full symphonic orchestras every year and the band directors are co-conductors of these ensembles.
The Round Rock High School Orchestra has had a rich tradition of awards and performance including dozens of UIL Sweepstakes and have performed at the beautiful Round Top Festival Institute 2011, 2015 and 2018. The orchestra has been named Grand Champions of multiple competitions including the Lone Star Competition in Dallas 2009, 2017; Space City Competition Houston 2011; Orlandofest in Florida 2012 and the Ozark Music Festival in Branson, Missouri, 2013. They have been selected to perform at the National Youth Concert/Premier Performances at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. The ensemble has recently been named National Winner of Foundation for Music Education Mark of Excellence in 2017 and Commended Winners in both string and full orchestras in 2018. In 2018, the orchestra was selected to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference which is host to over 18,000 members from all 50 states and over 40 different countries.
Round Rock High School supports over 180 string instrument players in five outstanding ensembles and 350 band students in five ensembles. Several members participate in acclaimed orchestra/band programs outside the school, including the Texas Music Educators Association Region and State orchestras and bands, Austin Youth Orchestra, Central Texas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Williamson County Orchestra. The orchestra rehearses with Round Rock Band members to make two full symphonic orchestras every year and the band directors are co-conductors of these ensembles.
The Round Rock High School Orchestra has had a rich tradition of awards and performance including dozens of UIL Sweepstakes and have performed at the beautiful Round Top Festival Institute 2011, 2015 and 2018. The orchestra has been named Grand Champions of multiple competitions including the Lone Star Competition in Dallas 2009, 2017; Space City Competition Houston 2011; Orlandofest in Florida 2012 and the Ozark Music Festival in Branson, Missouri, 2013. They have been selected to perform at the National Youth Concert/Premier Performances at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. The ensemble has recently been named National Winner of Foundation for Music Education Mark of Excellence in 2017 and Commended Winners in both string and full orchestras in 2018. In 2018, the orchestra was selected to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference which is host to over 18,000 members from all 50 states and over 40 different countries.
