Three Royse City Students Earn Spots in 2026 TMEA All-State Choirs

Three Royse City High School students, senior Zadyn Smith and juniors Aidon Harris and Elle Bond, earned places in the 2026 Texas Music Educators Association All‑State Choirs: Smith secured 1st Chair, Bass 2 in the All‑State Mixed Choir, Harris earned 4th Chair, Bass 2 in the All‑State Mixed Choir, and Bond took 10th Chair, Soprano 2 in the All‑State Treble Choir. The district describes the honor as “prestigious” and “one of the highest honors available to Texas high school musicians,” with three students reaching all‑state distinction in the same year.

This is Smith’s second consecutive All‑State selection, a repeat achievement for the RCHS senior that district materials highlighted as evidence of both individual accomplishment and the continued strength of Royse City High School’s choral program. The district list of TMEA All‑State students also included a band student, Matthew Harris, under a combined “TMEA All State Band and Choir Students” heading.

“The path to the All‑State stage is a challenging one.” Royse City ISD materials say the three students began their preparations in June 2025, dedicating summer and fall to private lessons, intensive summer camps, and master classes. Each student advanced through four distinct rounds of competitive auditions against the best vocalists in the region and state to secure their chairs.

RCHS choir directors Nathan White and Tracy Hall led the school program while students supplemented instruction with private lessons from Paul Burnam. District materials explicitly note, “These students are under the direction of Nathan White and Tracy Hall and are students of private instructor Paul Burnam,” underscoring the combined role of classroom and private mentoring in the selections.

All three student honorees were scheduled to travel to San Antonio from February 11–14, 2026, for the annual TMEA Clinic/Convention, where they would engage in three days of intensive rehearsals under the direction of world‑renowned conductors and clinicians. The convention schedule and exact rehearsal or performance times were not provided in district materials.

For more information, to request interviews, repertoire details, or photos, contact Royse City ISD at 810 Old Greenville Rd., Royse City, TX 75189, or by phone at 972‑636‑2413. Reporters and community members seeking follow‑up on repertoire, audition specifics, or the students’ experiences at the TMEA Clinic/Convention are encouraged to reach out to the district contact for confirmed schedules and media materials.