Rouse High School Honor Band

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The Rouse Honor Band is the premier concert ensemble within the Rouse High School Band program. Students are selected through a rigorous audition process each spring and fall. Currently, the band has students from grades nine through twelve. Quality recruitment, retention, and teaching within all levels of the aligned vertical team has allowed for all ensembles within our program to flourish and improve rapidly over the past several years. Next year, our overall band program is projected to grow by 60-70 students, and we will be adding an additional ensemble (Band #4) to our slate of groups. Feeder schools within our vertical team include Stiles and Wiley Middle Schools. Both programs are wonderfully successful. Stiles performed at Midwest in 2015 and 2021. Some members of the 2020 ensemble that did not perform at Midwest that year due to the pandemic are in the Rouse Honor Band and will graduate next year. The Wiley Wind Ensemble performed at the TMEA Convention in 2023 after being named "Texas Honor Band" in class 2C the year prior. Students in the Rouse Honor Band represent a diverse population within our school and are very high academic and artistic achievers. This year's ensemble has 27 region band members from one of the most competitive TMEA regions in the state. Additionally, ten students represented Rouse as a member of the TMEA All-State Band, and only two of these students were seniors. The Rouse Honor Band is a consistent UIL "superior" ensemble in both concert and sight reading/music literacy areas. In the spring of 2023, the Rouse Honor Band entered the 5A TMEA Honor Band Process and advanced through region, area, and state levels of competition, earning 4th place in finals. As a program, our teaching philosophy is to grow each individual through our shared musical passion and journey. Key to our success is our culture piece, "The Rouse Band Way." Our four guiding tenets are: 1) Demonstrate Character; 2) Come Prepared; 3) Participate with Enthusiasm; and 4) Support our Family.

Rouse High School Honor Band

Conductor's Bio

Ryan Johnstone is currently Director of Bands at Rouse High School in Leander, Texas, a position he has held since 2020. Previously, he was an associate director at Rouse for four years. All concert ensembles under his direction have earned straight superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluations. The Rouse Band placed 2nd in the 5A State Marching Band Contest in 2021 and 2023. The Rouse Honor Band was awarded 4th place in the TMEA 5A Honor Band process in 2023. Bands under his direction at Canyon Vista and Aledo Middle School were consistent superior award winners at UIL and invitational festivals. Top groups at each school also advanced to the Texas Music Educator Association’s State Honor Band Competition three times under his direction, placing 4th in 2011, 2nd in 2013, and 6th in 2015 (his first year at Canyon Vista). Additionally, the Aledo Middle School Honor Winds were invited performers at the 2013 Midwest Clinic. In 2012, Mr. Johnstone was honored by Alpha chapter of Phi Beta Mu, being named “Texas Young Bandmaster of the Year.” In addition to his teaching at Rouse High School, Mr. Johnstone is active as a guest clinician and music education consultant for other public school music programs. As an adjudicator, he’s served at events throughout Texas (UIL/TMEA) as well as Utah and Canada. His professional affiliations include membership in the Texas Music Educators' Association, Texas Bandmasters' Association, Texas Music Adjudicators’ Association, and Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Johnstone has previously served as a member of the UIL Sight Reading, PML, and Marching Band Rules Committee. He has presented clinics and served on panel discussions at the Midwest Clinic, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and the Texas Bandmasters Convention. He feels privileged and honored to have many fellow music educators, mentors, and friends who have influenced his teaching and career thus far, and he is grateful for his family and beautiful wife, Rachel, for their love and support. Mr. Johnstone is a graduate of the Curtis Institute and Yale University.