All about WRMS Orchestra

🎶 About the WRMS Orchestra

At West Ridge Middle School, orchestra is more than just a class—it’s a community built on purpose, practice, and the power of music.

Guided by our motto—“Strength in Sound. Power in Practice. Harmony in Unity.”—the WRMS Orchestra program empowers students to grow not only as musicians, but as confident, creative, and collaborative individuals. Whether a student is picking up their instrument for the first time or performing in our top ensembles, every experience is shaped by our belief in the transformative potential of music.

Our mission is to cultivate musical excellence, character, and connection through focused practice, performance, and teamwork. We strive to create a space where every student can play with heart, grow with purpose, and belong with pride.

The WRMS Orchestra includes four ensembles: Beginning Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Camerata, and Sinfonia. Each group supports students at every level, providing meaningful challenges, performance opportunities, and a strong sense of belonging.

Students in our program:

Perform in seasonal concerts and community events
Participate in UIL competitions and Region Orchestra auditions
Travel to exciting destinations—like our annual 8th grade trip to Disney!
Build lifelong skills like discipline, leadership, and teamwork

Orchestra at WRMS is a place to find your voice, hone your craft, and make something unforgettable—together.

Elizabeth J. Compton

Elizabeth Compton has proudly served as the Director of Orchestras at West Ridge Middle School in Eanes ISD since 2003. A dedicated educator and advocate for music education, she was honored as the Eanes ISD District Teacher of the Year in 2019–2020 for her outstanding leadership, teaching excellence, and deep commitment to inspiring a love of music in her students.

Mrs. Compton holds a Master’s in Music Education from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied violin with Dr. Eugene Gratovich and string pedagogy with the legendary Phyllis Young. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Violin Performance from Linfield College and taught in the renowned UT String Project during her graduate studies.

Her professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, and Texas Music Adjudicators Association.

When she’s not conducting orchestras or mentoring young musicians, Mrs. Compton is an avid long-distance runner. Since 2021, she has completed eight full marathons across the country. She also enjoys sweet treats (especially Skittles!), and movie nights featuring her favorite film—Disney’s Mulan.

Dr. James Burch

Dr. James Burch serves as the Assistant Director of Orchestras at West Ridge Middle School in Austin, TX. Before joining the WRMS team, he taught as the cello faculty at Concordia University Texas and served as the Director of Orchestras at Farley Middle School in Hutto ISD.

He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Cello Performance from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied cello with Bion Tsang and chamber music with members of the Miró Quartet. Dr. Burch also holds degrees from Southern Methodist University (M.M. in Cello Performance) and Georgia State University (B.M. in Cello Performance).

Dr. Burch is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the American String Teachers Association, and brings both a deep understanding of cello pedagogy and a collaborative spirit to his work with WRMS students.

Outside the orchestra room, Dr. Burch enjoys spending time with his wife, Abby, and their two sons, Charlie and Jack. He’s also an avid strength trainer—working toward his long-term goal of squatting 600 pounds. (Yes, seriously. That’s not a typo.)

2025-2026 WRMS Orchestra Syllabus

Daily Schedule

Period 1: Beginning Viola, Bass and Harp

Period 2: Beginning Violin and Harp

Period 3: Concert Orchestra and Harp

Period 4: Sinfonia and Harp

B Lunch

Period 5: Beginning Cello

Period 6: Wild Cat Time

Period 7: Camerata and Harp

Period 8: Conference

Beginning Orchestra

The West Ridge Beginning Orchestra Class is geared toward the student with no previous experience playing a stringed instrument: violin, viola, cello, and bass. These students consist mainly of sixth graders, however, there are some exceptions. This orchestra is divided up into four separate classes of equal level. Students will learn proper instrument position and posture, note and rhythm reading skills, proper right and left hand technique, and rehearsal and concert etiquette. All class periods will be combined before or after school prior to our performances.

Concert Orchestra

Concert Orchestra is for students who have completed beginning orchestra or have had at least one year of prior "orchestra" performance experience. This class meets as a whole every day. Rehearsal time will be spent reviewing instrument position and posture, note and rhythm reading, sight-reading procedures. Students should be comfortable with the keys of D, G, C and F Major. Students will also learn new skills such as advanced shifting, vibrato, advanced bow technique, and sight reading

Camarata

Camarata is an ensemble of students with at least two years of prior WRMS orchestra performance experience. This ensemble meets every day. Rehearsal time is spent reviewing instrument position and posture, note and rhythm reading, and sight-reading procedures. Students should also be comfortable with the keys of D, G, C, F, and Bb Major. Violins and viola should be comfortable with third position, cellos up to fourth position, and basses comfortable with fifth position. Students will continue to develop skills such as shifting, vibrato, advanced bow technique, and new key signatures.

Sinfonia

The West Ridge Sinfonia Orchestra is an 8th grade only ensemble with some exceptions made for very advanced seventh graders and is at the conductors discretion. This orchestra meets as a large ensemble every day. Rehearsal time moves at a quick pace and students are expected to be able to read notes quickly and comfortably as well as move about their instrument into position as needed. All students in this class are required to take private lessons and are expected to practice daily. Students should be comfortable with the keys of D, G, C, F, A, and B flat Major, advanced bow technique, and vibrato while stressing enhanced performance of the orchestra literature.

Membership for this orchestra is audition based and requires a higher level of commitment in and outside of the classroom. There is limited space in this ensemble and an increased workload in and outside of school.

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