Five Katy ISD music programs competed at the Texas Music Educators Association state level this summer, with Tompkins High School's band reaching the Honor Band semifinals and Jordan High School's symphony orchestra finishing second in the Honor Orchestra competition.

The district announced the results Thursday, Aug. 6, six days before the 2026-27 school year begins Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Tompkins' band advanced through multiple rounds of recorded-performance evaluations to reach the state semifinals on July 15, competing against varsity programs from every UIL classification in Texas. The Honor Band process culminates in a performance slot at the annual TMEA Clinic/Convention, and reaching the semifinal round places Tompkins among a small group of top programs statewide.

That's a strong finish.

Jordan High School's symphony orchestra, meanwhile, earned second place in the TMEA Honor Orchestra competition, which advances only six high school groups to its final round. All finalists receive a certificate from TMEA, and the winning director and ensemble receive a plaque.

Katy ISD did not name the other three programs that competed at the state level.

The results cap a strong year for the district's fine arts programs. Fifty-one Katy ISD students earned All-State Musician honors and performed at the 2026 TMEA Clinic/Convention in San Antonio in February, an event that drew nearly 30,000 attendees. Three district ensembles also performed at that convention. In the 2025 cycle, Beckendorff Junior High's string orchestra, directed by Amy Williams, won the JH/MS String Honor Orchestra title.

Katy ISD's fine arts department has also earned the Texas Art Education Association District of Distinction designation six times and received the Texas Educational Theatre Association Exemplary District Award of Distinction during the 2025-26 school year.

The district said on its official Instagram account that the achievements reflect the dedication, talent and hours of practice student musicians put in throughout the year.

Students return to class Wednesday, Aug. 12. Fall concert schedules for Tompkins and Jordan have not yet been posted.