Our 38th annual Rio Band Playathon is scheduled for Thursday, November 8. Playathon is a blast for everyone, and is a required event for all Rio Band students. Much more information will follow soon. All of our students received their Playathon Packet. Please look for it. This packet is their ticket into Playathon on November 8. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we ask that kids try to raise some funds to keep Rio Band going strong. There is a personal pledge form, some tax receipts, as well as informational flyers in the packet. Also, you’ll find the Playathon contract (or download here). ALL students must return this contract, signed by the student and a parent. We request that each student donate $20 to cover the cost of food throughout Playathon. We provide breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, beverages and pizza. If finances are a problem, let us know and we can provide scholarships.
Welcome to the new school year. Here are few things to get your year started off right:
- First day of school is Thursday August 16. Musicians can leave instruments home for the first day of school.
- Zero period now starts at 7:00 a.m. Savor the five extra minutes but as our wise band directors say “On time is late, early is on time.” Zero period musicians should be warmed up and ready to play at 7 a.m.
- Our calendar is filling up. All events will be posted here on the website. More details will be added in the coming days.
- Emails from our directors are very important. Please read them all the way through. They are concise but informative and will answer most questions you have about the program and events.
If you have a general band question, email RABB at rabandmail@gmail.com and one of our trusty board members will get back to you.
Rio Band has had a busy and amazing month. Congratulations to all the winners. The hard work and early mornings pay off!
Swing Central – Savannah Music Festival
One hundred bands from across the United States submitted audition recordings for the prestigious Swing Central competition which is part of the Savannah Music Festival. Twelve bands were selected to compete in Savannah andRio Americano AM Jazz Ensemble showed up with the jazz and placed third! Here’s one of their Swing Central performances – AM playing Night and Day! Swing Central Jazz, #SCJ2018 https://youtu.be/F-UT6EmeF7c
Mingus
A Rio combo was again selected as one of three in the nation to compete in the annual Mingus Festival in NYC. This year’s group was award the Mingus Spirit Award for the group that most embodied the spirit and energy of Charles 
Mingus and his music.
41st Annual Downbeat Student Music Awards
Another Rio Combo TRio was awarded the 2018 Downbeat Award as best High School Small Combo in the United States.
