Round Rock High School 
Two of our orchestras placed as National Winners in the national competition sponsored by the Foundation for Music Education Mark of Excellence. The Symphony Full Orchestra, under the direction of Erin Keith and David Mobley, won the 2023 National Mark of Excellence for Full Orchestra. The Philharmonic Full Orchestra won the 2023 Citation of Excellence for Full Orchestra under the direction of Caleb Carter and Cathy Benford.
Congratulations to these students as well as other orchestra programs in RRISD.
If you want to learn more about this national honor, please read below.
The Mark of Excellence project seeks to recognize and award outstanding achievement in performance by high school and middle school bands, choirs and orchestras. The project gathers entries from throughout the United States and provides valuable feedback for all entrants. A unique competitive environment is created which allows ensembles to compare their performance quality to other outstanding groups from across the country. The top 25% of entrants are recognized as National Winners, with the second 25% named as Commended Winners.
The Citation of Excellence project seeks to recognize and award outstanding achievement in performance by non-varsity high school and middle school bands and orchestras. A unique competitive environment is created which allows ensembles to compare their performance quality to other outstanding non-varsity ensembles. The top 25% of entrants are recognized as Citation Winners, with the second 25% named as Commended Winners.