Royse City percussionist Matthew Harris named to 2026 Texas All‑State

Matthew Harris, a percussionist in the Royse City High School band, has been confirmed as a 2026 Texas All‑State musician and performed at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, as part of the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention. Royse City ISD and BlueRibbonNews reported that Harris “qualified to rehearse and perform with the 2026 Texas All‑State Bands and Orchestras.”

Harris plays in the RCHS percussion section under band director Jason Webb and studies with percussion instructors Connor Pickle, Jordan Ferguson, Jacob Hord, and Quincy Jarmon. Local reporting from the RoyseCityHeraldBanner notes this is Harris’ first selection as a TMEA All‑State musician, a milestone the Herald‑Banner and other outlets described as “one of the highest honors a Texas high school music student can achieve.”

The selection came through a statewide audition process organized by TMEA that begins with roughly 60,000 students each year and narrows to about 1,830 performers across 18 All‑State ensembles. That funnel represents approximately the top 3 percent of students who audition, according to local coverage summarizing TMEA statistics and the area competition framework.

The All‑State performances were part of the 2026 TMEA Clinic/Convention, held Feb. 11–14, 2026. Royse City ISD materials and BlueRibbonNews highlighted convention scale: more than 30,000 attendees, over 300 workshops, roughly 100 performances, and about 600 exhibiting companies and higher education institutions. TMEA, founded in 1920, lists membership above 20,400 with some 14,100 school music educators; the organization also offers scholarships and programs for students pursuing music education careers. For convention records or program information, TMEA can be reached by phone at (469) 343‑9550.

Royse City ISD amplified Harris’ achievement on district channels and social media; an Instagram post read, “Congratulations to RCHS Band student, Matthew Harris, who earned the prestigious honor of being named a Texas All‑State Musician!” BlueRibbonNews also noted broader Royse City fine arts success the same week, reporting that RCHS choir students Aidon Harris, Elle Bond, and Zadyn Smith earned chairs in the 2026 TMEA All‑State Choir ensembles. A separate Royse City ISD entry listing area audition context shows a January 10, 2026 date at Plano Senior High School for area rounds of the All‑State process.

Readers seeking program details, photos, or district coverage of Harris’ performance should check Royse City ISD’s official posts and social channels and may contact TMEA at (469) 343‑9550 for convention archives and All‑State program listings. Local schools and the district continue to publish follow‑up coverage; Royse City residents looking to congratulate Harris can also watch for additional RCHS band updates from director Jason Webb and the school’s fine arts communications.