The Central High School Orchestra has maintained a streak of excellence for decades, including earning Sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sightreading for the last 41 consecutive years. The program, revived in the '80s by CHS legend David Phillips, has produced TMEA All-State musicians, most recently in 2022-23 with double bassist Greg Faught. They were also awarded the Foundation for Music Education's Mark of Excellence / Orchestra Honors Project Commended Winners under the direction of Emilee Hall-Rocha and Mykel Martin in 2022. This program is built on the idea of progress over perfection. In December 2025, the CHS Orchestra will perform with rock violin royalty Mark Wood, formerly of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.Â