The Royse City High School Percussion Ensemble was selected as the winner of the Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition (IPEC) this past summer. Winning IPEC is widely considered the highest honor achievable for high school percussion ensembles worldwide. RCHS secured first place, out of the largest field of applicants in the competition’s history, earning an invitation to perform a showcase concert in Indianapolis at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) this November.
Every year, thousands of percussion students, educators, composers, and world-renowned performers gather at PASIC, the premier percussion event in the world. Selection for a showcase concert is exceptionally exclusive, with only three high school percussion programs globally chosen to perform each year.
To enter, ensembles were required to submit 30 minutes of live, unedited performance recordings. A distinguished panel of international percussion educators and performers evaluated the entries, ultimately selecting Royse City to represent high school percussion excellence on the global stage.
The ensemble is led by Director Mr. Pickle, who previously had the honor of performing at PASIC as a student, alongside Assistant Director Jordan Ferguson.
Local Send-Off Concerts
In preparation for their performance at PASIC (November 11–14 in Indianapolis), the Royse City High School Percussion Ensemble will host two local send-off concerts. The community is invited to come out, support the students, and experience this world-class music program live:
Joint Showcase with East Texas A&M University
Under the direction of former RCISD Board Member Dr. Brian Zator
Date & Time: Sunday, November 1 at 4:30 PM
Location: East Texas A&M University (Commerce, TX)
Community Send-Off Concert
Date & Time: Monday, November 2 at 6:00 PM
Location: Lakepointe Church (Royse City, TX)
Both events are open to the public. Join us in celebrating these extraordinary student musicians before they head to Indianapolis!
