Josh Murray has been a tireless band teacher and musical mentor at Rio since 1998. Mr. Murray grew up in New York City and attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, learning from Reggie Workman, Jimmy Cobb, Ira Gitler, Kenny Werner, and Joanne Brackeen, among others. Mr. Murray’s performing credits include shows with Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith, Peter Erskine, Bobby Shew, Gary Foster, Donny McCaslin, Wycliffe Gordon, the Jim Widner Big Band, and the Drifters. He plays alto saxophone in the Ron Cunha Big Band. Mr. Murray has a Bachelor’s Degree in History from UC Davis and a Masters in Education from Chapman University. He is a contributing author to
Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz, Vol. 2. In 2024 he was the recipient of the California Music Educators Association’s Jazz Award and the Sacramento Arts Foundation’s “Hero of the Arts” award.
Mitch Evett grew up in Vernon Hills, IL where he was heavily involved in the music scene, playing bass trombone in concert and jazz band, orchestra and singing tenor in choir. He got a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. After graduating Mitch taught high school and middle school band in Shakopee, Minnesota for five years and was the assistant conductor for the City of Lakes Community Band and subbed frequently with the Minnesota Symphonic Winds. His teachers include Colleen Bayoneto, Tim Riordan, Randy Sundell, Frank Lestina, Jeremy Little, Timothy Mahr, Steve Amundson and Dave Hagedorn. Mr. Evett joined the Rio Band program in 2019.
Victor San Pedro is a Canadian-born, Sacramento-raised musician and educator with a wide range of experiences in the music industry including international and national touring, recording, videography, producing, songwriting, performing, and teaching. Some of his recording and performing credits include Benny Golson, John Legend, Jhene Aiko, Tia Carrere, Katisse Buckingham, Tierney Sutton, and Julian Le. He holds a Master’s of Music Education from the University of Florida, a Bachelor’s of Arts in Jazz Performance from CSU Northridge, and is a proud alumni of Rio Band. Since moving back to Sacramento in 2021, he has fully invested himself in music education and is committed to upholding the excellence of Rio Band.
