Jason Tucker, Director of Bands and Music Department Chair
Jason Tucker has been Director of Bands at Rice Middle School since the school opened in 1999. Under his direction, the Rice Raven Band has achieved statewide and national recognition as an outstanding middle school band program. The Rice Middle School Band has earned consistent sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest, Best in Class and Best in Contest at numerous invitational contests, and has been named a TMEA State Honor Band Finalist in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2017. The Rice Band has twice been named a national winner of the Mark of Excellence National Windband Honors Project. In 2012, the Rice Middle School Band was named the Most Outstanding Texas Band Program by the Texas chapter of the American School Band Directors Association. The Rice Middle School Raven Band was named the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Sudler Silver Cup by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
Mr. Tucker is the co-director of the Rice Middle School Symphony Orchestra, which has earned numerous awards at invitational festivals and has been a TMEA Full Orchestra State Finalist in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Under Mr. Tucker's direction, the Rice Raven Band has commissioned a number of new works for windband by prominent American composers. These title include Kalanu (Julie Giroux), Keltic Dances (W. Francis McBeth), Earth, the Gentlest Mother (Christopher Tucker), The Seal Lullaby (Eric Whitacre, consortium), But Joy Comes... (William Owens), and Fanfare from Here Below for Brass and Percussion (Brian Beck). The 2013 Rice Woodwind Choir also premiered two original compositions, The Tempest and After the Storm, by Rice Middle School Student, Jasmin Limqueco. The Rice Band premiered newly commissioned pieces, Homage to Bharat, and a Texas Bandmasters Association consortium commission, Infinite Hope, both by acclaimed composer, Brian Balmages. On the same performance, two consortium commissions by Randall Standridge, Frogs and March of the Arachnids, were also premiered. The Rice Raven Band has most recently performed Crowns of Glory, commissioned by composer Jack Wilds, in December of 2019.
A graduate of Plano East Senior High School, Mr. Tucker earned his Bachelor of Music Education with Distinction in University Honors as a hornist from New Mexico State University and his Master of Secondary Education from the University of North Texas with emphasis in music and curriculum design and instruction.
Mr. Tucker's professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, The National Band Association, The American School Band Directors Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. He is an active clinician and adjudicator and has presented workshops for the TMEA and TBA state conventions and The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Mr. Tucker is an active consultant on curriculum design and assessment in middle school bands and currently serves as the Area C Mentor Coordinator for the Texas Music Educators Association.
Mr. Tucker is a lifetime member of the Texas PTA and was named 2004 Teacher of the Year for Rice Middle School. He was also recognized by the Plano Masonic Lodge No. 768 with the 2017-2018 Mirabeau Lamar Award for Excellence in Education.
Mr. Tucker is married to his wife, Cyndi, who is also a band director in Lovejoy ISD. They are the proud parents of two children, both graduates of Plano West SH. Mr. Tucker is a regular blood donor and an advocate for organ donation. A bone marrow donor himself, he also advocates registry with the National Marrow Donor Program. Mr. Tucker enjoys fishing, camping, hiking, motorcycling, golf, and home improvement projects.
Jason Tucker has been Director of Bands at Rice Middle School since the school opened in 1999. Under his direction, the Rice Raven Band has achieved statewide and national recognition as an outstanding middle school band program. The Rice Middle School Band has earned consistent sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest, Best in Class and Best in Contest at numerous invitational contests, and has been named a TMEA State Honor Band Finalist in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2017. The Rice Band has twice been named a national winner of the Mark of Excellence National Windband Honors Project. In 2012, the Rice Middle School Band was named the Most Outstanding Texas Band Program by the Texas chapter of the American School Band Directors Association. The Rice Middle School Raven Band was named the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Sudler Silver Cup by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
Mr. Tucker is the co-director of the Rice Middle School Symphony Orchestra, which has earned numerous awards at invitational festivals and has been a TMEA Full Orchestra State Finalist in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Under Mr. Tucker's direction, the Rice Raven Band has commissioned a number of new works for windband by prominent American composers. These title include Kalanu (Julie Giroux), Keltic Dances (W. Francis McBeth), Earth, the Gentlest Mother (Christopher Tucker), The Seal Lullaby (Eric Whitacre, consortium), But Joy Comes... (William Owens), and Fanfare from Here Below for Brass and Percussion (Brian Beck). The 2013 Rice Woodwind Choir also premiered two original compositions, The Tempest and After the Storm, by Rice Middle School Student, Jasmin Limqueco. The Rice Band premiered newly commissioned pieces, Homage to Bharat, and a Texas Bandmasters Association consortium commission, Infinite Hope, both by acclaimed composer, Brian Balmages. On the same performance, two consortium commissions by Randall Standridge, Frogs and March of the Arachnids, were also premiered. The Rice Raven Band has most recently performed Crowns of Glory, commissioned by composer Jack Wilds, in December of 2019.
A graduate of Plano East Senior High School, Mr. Tucker earned his Bachelor of Music Education with Distinction in University Honors as a hornist from New Mexico State University and his Master of Secondary Education from the University of North Texas with emphasis in music and curriculum design and instruction.
Mr. Tucker's professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, The National Band Association, The American School Band Directors Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. He is an active clinician and adjudicator and has presented workshops for the TMEA and TBA state conventions and The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Mr. Tucker is an active consultant on curriculum design and assessment in middle school bands and currently serves as the Area C Mentor Coordinator for the Texas Music Educators Association.
Mr. Tucker is a lifetime member of the Texas PTA and was named 2004 Teacher of the Year for Rice Middle School. He was also recognized by the Plano Masonic Lodge No. 768 with the 2017-2018 Mirabeau Lamar Award for Excellence in Education.
Mr. Tucker is married to his wife, Cyndi, who is also a band director in Lovejoy ISD. They are the proud parents of two children, both graduates of Plano West SH. Mr. Tucker is a regular blood donor and an advocate for organ donation. A bone marrow donor himself, he also advocates registry with the National Marrow Donor Program. Mr. Tucker enjoys fishing, camping, hiking, motorcycling, golf, and home improvement projects.
Annalee Hixson, Associate Director of Bands
Annalee Hixson returned to her alma mater in 2021. During her first year, she learned many valuable lessons. Under her direction, the Symphonic Band earned "sweepstakes" at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation.
After growing up in Plano, Ms. Hixson pursued her Music Education degree at Baylor University. While at Baylor, she performed with the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble on saxophone and spent three years in the Wayne Fisher Jazz Program. Ms. Hixson also served on Staff for the Golden Wave Band for two years, assisting with the behind the scenes planning and preparation involved in running a successful program. Ms. Hixson recently graduated summa cum laude and received the Collegiate Music Educator Award from the Texas Music Educators Association, given to students showing high levels of dedication and promise in the field of music education.
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Hixson enjoys reading, needlework, taking care of her plants and fish as well as playing with her dog, Piper. She also loves spending time with family on the weekends at the family lake house.
Annalee Hixson returned to her alma mater in 2021. During her first year, she learned many valuable lessons. Under her direction, the Symphonic Band earned "sweepstakes" at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation.
After growing up in Plano, Ms. Hixson pursued her Music Education degree at Baylor University. While at Baylor, she performed with the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble on saxophone and spent three years in the Wayne Fisher Jazz Program. Ms. Hixson also served on Staff for the Golden Wave Band for two years, assisting with the behind the scenes planning and preparation involved in running a successful program. Ms. Hixson recently graduated summa cum laude and received the Collegiate Music Educator Award from the Texas Music Educators Association, given to students showing high levels of dedication and promise in the field of music education.
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Hixson enjoys reading, needlework, taking care of her plants and fish as well as playing with her dog, Piper. She also loves spending time with family on the weekends at the family lake house.
