Presented to you by RABB

The Rio Band’s Ellington Contingent is about to perform in Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center!

The Rio Band has hit the (no so) mean streets of New York…Here they are at The Louis Armstrong House where the jazz great lived from 1943 to 1971 and routed for the Mets….

Our PM and FM Jazz Ensembles, as well as two combos performed at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival on Saturday. All the groups played beautifully, and represented Rio with class. PM was selected by the judges for a command performance on Saturday night. Individual awards were garnered by- Jacob Swedlow (solo awards in PM and combo, plus a scholarship), Devan Kortan (solo awards in PM and 2 combos), Joshua Kravitz (PM), Kyle Nixon (PM), Carson Messer (PM and combo), Emily Dunning (PM), Ben Kerr (FM), Ryan Clark (FM) and Emma Simpson (combo).

Honors Concert Band will be performing the works of Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Bach, Debussy, Wagner, and Mozart as well as an original student composition at 7 PM  on March 12 in the Rio Band Room.

Rio’s AM Jazz Ensemble has been selected as a finalist for the Essentially Ellington Festival, held this May at NYC’s Lincoln Center. This is the most prestigious and educational of all HS Jazz Festivals and Competitions, and AM is one of 15 finalists selected from a large, International pool of applicants. AM members will travel to NYC in May, perform at Lincoln Center, and work and mingle with Wynton Marsalis, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and the best young jazz musicians from around the country. This is the second year in a row, and the seventh time overall that Rio has been selected as an Essentially Ellington Finalist. Congratulations to all of the members of AM, as well as their families. Their hard work continues to pay off. Josh Murray Band Director

I’m thrilled and proud to announce that Rio’s ‘Minguys’ Jazz Combo was the winner at yesterday’s Charles Mingus Festival, held at NYC’s Manhattan School of Music!

The Minguys were selected as finalists from a national pool of applicants, and chosen as the Festival’s best combo in an awards ceremony last night.

Congratulations to Mr. Kiesner, who is in NYC with the group right now, and to the members of the group- Emery Mesich, Taylor Mesich, Andrew Stephens, Harrison Smith, Joey Cozza, Henry Lunetta, Jeric Rocamora and Paul Slater.

 

In addition, three of the members won individual awards, and were asked to perform with the Mingus Big Band last night-

Emery Mesich- outstanding saxophone

Andrew Stephens- outstanding trumpet

Joey Cozza- outstanding piano

Here’s a link to the video about the Minguys produced by Rebecca Leroux at SJUSD:

http://www.sanjuan.edu/news.cfm?story=14500&school=75

And a link to a NYC area web story about the Festival (pre-results):

http://statenisland.ny1.com/content/177207/young-jazz-talents-play-off-in-competition-to-continue-great-musician-s-legacy

Please join me in saluting the hard work and determination of these amazingly talented and dedicated kids.

Josh Murray

Band Director

Congratulations to the Minguys Jazz Combo on their acceptance into the 5th annual Charles Mingus High School Jazz Festival and Competition!  The band will travel to New York City to participate in the event, held at the Manhattan School of Music, on February 16th-17th.  The days are filled with clinics and concerts from New York’s finest musicians and jazz educators. Members of the Minguys Jazz Combo are: Joey Cozza – Piano, Henry Lunetta – Guitar, Emery Mesich – Alto Sax, Taylor Mesich – Tenor Sax, Harrison Smith – Trombone, Andrew Stephans – Trumpet, Jeric Rocamora – Bass, Paul Slater – Drums. Check it out!! @ www.mingusmingusmingus.com 2013MingusHSFinalistsUPDATE

trombonist Michael Wang was awarded Berklee College of Music’scoveted Presidential Scholarship. The four-year scholarship is valued at approximately $225,000 and covers tuition, housing and fees, school officials said. It is awarded each year to seven of the most talented young musicians across the world.