About Us

The Ronald Thornton Middle School Band is one of the largest organizations at RTMS! With nearly 300 members in grades 6th through 8th, the RTMS Band is a place where students can enjoy a feeling of community and friendship while working together to develop skills and achieve common goals that they will carry with them for a lifetime!  

2018-2019 RTMS Band Success:

• Over 40 First Division Medals earned in the Region 13 Solo and Ensemble Contest

• Beginner Band earned a First Division Overall Rating at the 2019 Gator Music Festival

• Honors Band earned a First Division Overall Rating at the Region 13 UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest

• Honors Band placed 4th in the Region 13 TMEA Honor Band Contest (Top 4 in the DISTRICT as well!) 

2020-2021 RTMS Band Success: 

• Honors Band earned a First Division Overall Rating at the Region 13 UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest

• Symphonic Band earned the FIRST Ever First Division Rating at Region 13 UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest 

2021-2022 RTMS Band Success: 

• Program enrollment and retention increased exponentially to nearly 300 Band Members TOTAL! 

• 27 students and 2 alternates made the prestigious Region 13 All-Region Honor Band! 

  •  The most in School History and the 2nd most in all of Region 13! 

• Honors and Symphonic Bands will travel to Fort Worth, Texas to compete in the prestigious North Texas Festival of Distinction against nearly 40 middle school bands from across the state! 

2022-2023 RTMS Band Success: 

• Program enrollment and retention increased exponentially to nearly 300 Band Members TOTAL! 

• 25 students and 2 alternates made the prestigious Region 13 All-Region Honor Band! 

• The RTMS Honors band performed in Indianapolis, IN at the Music For All National Concert Band Festival, being one of only eight middle schools invited for this event!

• Symphonic Band traveled to Fort Worth, Texas to compete in the prestigious North Texas Festival of Distinction against nearly 50 total middle school bands from across the state!

Beginning Band

The Beginning Band is the first step in your journey as a member of the Thornton Middle School Band.  Students in the Beginning Band will enjoy instrument specific classes where they can learn to play their chosen instrument in a small-group setting.  Students will learn how to properly assembly, hold, and play their instrument in a fun and progressive course designed to teach all of the skills necessary to perform concerts for your family and friends!

The Beginning Band will perform several concerts throughout the first year.   We will combine to perform a Winter Concert in December and a Spring Concert in May, as well as travel to various festivals and competitions at the end of the year! 

The Beginning Band is primarily made up of 6th grade students, but special consideration can be made on a case-by-case basis for older students interested in joining band.​

Concert Band

The Concert Band is one of the next steps after Beginning Band.  The Concert Band is designed to emphasize continued development in areas such as technique, tone, and music literacy, as well as skills in ensemble balance, blend, and awareness.  The Concert Band performs a Winter Concert in December and a Spring Concert in May. 

The Concert Band consists of 7th/8th grade students that have completed Beginning Band.

Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band is one of the next steps after Beginning is one of our 3 Performing Bands at RTMS.  The Symphonic Band is designed to emphasize continued development in areas such as technique, tone, and music literacy, as well as skills in ensemble balance, blend, and awareness.  The Symphonic Band performs a Fall Concert in September, a Winter Concert in December, a Spring Concert in May, UIL in April, as well as travels to various festivals and competitions at the end of the year. 

The Symphonic Band consists of 7th/8th grade students that have completed Beginning Band. Placement in the Symphonic Band is by audition only.

Honors Band

The Honors Band is our most advanced ensemble designed to emphasize continued individual development in areas such as technique, tone, and music literacy through a progressive curriculum of upper middle school and high school level music literature.  This is our premier ensemble.  The Honors Band performs a Fall Concert in September, a Winter Concert in December, a Spring Concert in May, UIL in April, as well as travels to various festivals and competitions at the end of the year.  The Honors Band also competes in Statewide and National competitions. 

The Honors Band consists of mostly 8th grade students.  Placement in the Honors Band is by audition only.