Royse City ISD -

Royse City High School is celebrating a banner year for its fine arts programs  with three members of the RCHS Choir—Aidon Harris, Elle Bond, and Zadyn Smith—qualifiying for the 2026 Texas All-State Choirs. These students are under the direction of Nathan White and Tracy Hall and are students of private instructor Paul Burnam.

• Zadyn Smith (Senior): Earned 1st Chair (Bass 2), performing with the TMEA All-State Mixed Choir. This is Smith’s second consecutive All-State selection.

• Aidon Harris (Junior): Earned 4th Chair (Bass 2), performing with the TMEA All-State Mixed Choir.

• Elle Bond (Junior): Earned 10th Chair (Soprano 2), performing with the TMEA All-State Treble Choir.

A Journey of Dedication

The path to the All-State stage is a challenging one. These students began their preparations in June 2025, dedicating their summer and fall to private lessons, intensive summer camps, and master classes. To secure their spots, they successfully advanced through four distinct rounds of competitive auditions against the best vocalists in the region and state.

Performance in San Antonio

All three student honorees will travel to San Antonio from February 11–14, 2026, for the annual TMEA Clinic/Convention. There, they will engage in three days of intensive rehearsals under the direction of world-renowned conductors and clinicians.

The experience will culminate in a grand performance on Valentine’s Day, February 14, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. They will perform before an audience of thousands of music educators, family members, and peers from across Texas.

About TMEA

Founded in 1920, the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) is a nonprofit professional association with over 20,400 members dedicated to supporting high-quality music education. TMEA advocates for fine arts instruction and provides professional development, scholarships, and elite performance opportunities for students across Texas. For more information, visit www.tmea.org/convention.