Please add dates for this semester to your calendar!

Welcome, Future Orchestra Students!

We will host an Instrument Selection Night for all students who are new to orchestra. This is our only in-person event, so please plan to attend if at all possible.

Location: Rice Middle School (use front entrance)
Date: Wednesday, April 8
Time: 4:00–5:30 PM
Format: Come-and-go during that time frame

Students will have the opportunity to try all four orchestra instruments:

You’ll also get to meet the orchestra directors and receive important information about the supplies that will need to be obtained over the summer.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Rice Orchestra family!

While you are here, explore our website, especially the "Incoming Students" section. HERE

For students with prior string playing experience, this is an optional event for you. We need you to submit and audition video using this Google Form so that we can place you in the correct level of orchestra.

2026 Solo & Ensemble

Saturday, April 25th @ Robinson Middle School

The $14 per event fee will be available to pay on 3/13/26 in "Student Quick Pay" (aka Rycor)

Please check out the Solo & Ensemble section of the website for ALL the detials.

Click HERE

Open House Spring Orchestra

Open House Slides 2026

Spring Semester Dates

Friday, January 30th - 8th Grade Jasper Night

Tuesday, February 17th - Studio Movie Grill!

Friday, February 27th - PreUIL at the Robinson Fine Arts Center (Chamber, Advanced, Advanced Int., & Prelude)

5:35 Performance - Rice - Advanced Orchestra (5:00 PM Call Time)

6:00 Renner 1

6:25 Performance - Rice - Advanced Intermediate Orchestra (5:55 PM Call Time)

6:50 Renner 2

7:15 Performance - Rice - Prelude Orchestra (6:45 PM Call Time)

7:40 Renner 3

8:05 Performance - Rice - Chamber Orchestra (7:35 Call Time)

March 9th and 10th - UIL Competition at the Robinson Fine Arts Center (Chamber, Advanced, Advanced Int. & Prelude)

Saturday, April 25th - Solo & Ensemble Competition at Robinson Middle School

Thursday, May 7th - Spring Concert at Christ United Methodist Church (everyone!)

All Region Orchestra 2025 @ Lowery Freshman Center

Practice Records (Etude, Prelude, Advanced, AI)

All students are expected to turn in a weekly practice record every Monday. This practice record should accurately reflect the time spent on orchestra or private lesson materials at home. Parents, please only sign completed practice records. Repeated zeros on practice records negatively impact a student's grade. ***Chamber students have a different accountability procedure in place.***

Supplies

Advanced Intermediate

Advanced

Chamber

Rental Companies

Rice MS Orchestra - Rental CompaniesPlease plan on renting (not buying) an instrument from one of our recommended vendors. These vendors have worked with Plano ISD for a number of years and offer quality instruments at a competitive price. Violins and violas will rent an instrument to be carried back and forth between school each

Congratulations to the 2025 Rice Chamber Orchestra on a wonderful TMEA Honor Orchestra Performance.

Congratulations S&E Participants!

This year's Solo & Ensemble was a huge success. Thank you to all who participated.

Rice orchestra students earned 126 superior awards and 26 exemplary awards. Congratulations!

Plano West Orchestra Students Earn Top Honors

I’m happy to share that 4 PWSH Orchestra students are in the TOP 10 of their graduating class, including Valedictorian!

Why? As you know, several years ago, PISD changed how they calculate class rank. The new formula no longer rewards dropping fine arts classes to take AP classes purely for the GPA boost they used to provide. Now, all students are evaluated on a core set of classes that are common to everyone. It's not at all surprising to see this result, and best of all, these outstanding scholars have proven that you can do music AND compete at the highest academic level. The new plan has worked, because previously, our students VERY RARELY placed in the top 10…….. not at all due to ability, but simply because of the old GPA game that punished them. Now, our students are disproportionately represented in the top 10 every year, including several years of Valedictorian and Salutatorian.

Secret Santa 2024

Chamber Viola Section

Viola pride at All Region!

New Orchestra Student Info

We are excited to meet all our new orchestra students. If you missed the 5th Grade Instrument Selection Event, don't worry. You can still be in orchestra! We've created some onlines resources to help you navigate the process of selecting an instrument at home. It is important that you pick your instrument and start the rental process before school begins in August. ***Do NOT purchase an instrument.***

Please locate "Incoming Students" in the navigation bar above for everything you need to get started. We look forward to seeing you soon.

We had an EPIC time at the Epic Waters Music Festival!

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