Round Rock High School Symphony Orchestra

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The city of Round Rock sits 26 miles north of Austin, the Texas state capital, along the famed Chisholm Trail, which crosses scenic Brushy Creek at a shallow spot marked by the city’s namesake round table rock. Echoing the city’s transformation from dusty frontier settlement to bustling high-tech home of Dell Computers, the high school celebrated its 100th birthday in 2013. Round Rock High School supports over 200 string instrument players in five outstanding ensembles and has two full symphony orchestras combining students from both band and orchestra. Several members participate in acclaimed orchestra programs outside the school, including the Texas Music Educators Association Region and State Orchestras, Austin Youth Orchestra, Vivace Youth Orchestra and Williamson County Orchestra. The Round Rock High School Orchestra has had a rich tradition of awards including numerous UIL Sweepstakes; Grand Champions of Lone Star Competition in Dallas 2009, 2017; Space City Competition Houston 2011; Orlandofest in Florida 2012; Ozark Music Festival in Branson, Missouri, 2013; National Youth Concert at Carnegie Hall 2010, 2014 and 2018; and National Winner of Foundation for Music Education “Mark of Excellence” 2017.

Round Rock High School Symphony Orchestra

Conductor's Bio

Sandra Vandertulip began violin at the age of eight and has enjoyed music success as a musician. An Arizona High School All-State Musician on both violin and in voice, Ms. Vandertulip was the outstanding musician at her high school and attended Arizona State University on full music scholarship. After one year of teaching in Phoenix, Ms. Vandertulip taught in Austin ISD for five years where she also was an All-City Orchestra Director and TMEA Region 18 Division Chairman. In coming to Round Rock ISD, Ms. Vandertulip has taught at C.D. Fulkes, Hopewell, Cedar Valley and Chisholm Trail Middle Schools. Chisholm Trail Orchestra placed fifth in state in finals in 2005 under Mrs. Vandertulip's direction. She also co-directed the Austin Youth Philharmonic Orchestra 1996-2000 and served as the Austin Youth Orchestra Symphony Director 2016-2017. This is Mrs. Vandertulip's thirtieth year with Round Rock ISD. Round Rock High School under Ms. Vandertulip’s direction the orchestra has received multiple awards including UIL Sweepstakes; Grand Champion of Lone Star Competition in Dallas 2009, 2017; Performed at Round Top Festival Institute 2011; 2015; Grand Champion of Space City Competition Houston 2011; Grand Champion of Orlandofest in Florida 2012; Grand Champion of Ozark Music Festival in Branson, Missouri, 2013, National Youth Concert at Carnegie Hall 2010, 2014, 2018. In 2017, the RRHS Symphony was named a "National Winner" of the Mark of Excellence by The Foundation for Music Education. The RRHS Symphony has been selected to perform at the 2018 Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Ms. Vandertulip formally served as the Round Rock Independent School District sponsor for the Texas Music Educators Association “Texas Future Music Educators” RRISD Chapter as well as advisor to Round Rock High School’s Tri-M Music Honor Society. Ms. Vandertulip is a Past President of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association as well as members of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Mu Omicron Honorary Fraternity. She has served on several TMEA State Honor Orchestra Adjudication panels, on the UIL Orchestra State Sightreading Selection Committee, UIL Music Advisory Committee, has been the UIL Solo and Ensemble Orchestra Chairman for Region 26 and is a frequent adjudicator throughout Texas. She has also been named as a “Who’s Who Teacher in America”. When she is not teaching, she enjoys cooking with husband Richard and attending their children’s performances.