1. Our AM Jazz Ensemble performed at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival over the weekend. They were met with a standing ovation, and Andrew Stephens won a solo award, as well as a 50% scholarship to the Berklee School of Music Summer program. Great job All!
2. I have attached a (very) preliminary and partial calendar of Rio Band events for the 2014/15 school year. We always strive to avoid scheduling conflicts, so please mark your calendars.
3. Many Rio Band students will be participating in the second annual “Midtown Jam” on Saturday, April 12th. It’s part of the Second Saturday festivities, and will be a great way to get the good word of Rio Band out to the wider Sacramento community. It’s sure to be a blast, so come on out and bring family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, etc… Proceeds will benefit Rio Band and WEAVE. I’ve attached information about the event.
4. If you attend the Midtown Jam, you might also check out the opening of an exhibit from Markos Egure, the artist who painted our fabulous mural on the band room. It’s only a couple of blocks from out event!

Some members of AM and The Mingus Combo were interviewed today by Beth Ruyak on Insight today. You can listen at:
Insight 3-18-14

1. We will be hosting an exchange concert this Wednesday at 7pm in the band room. The International Christian University Jazz Band, from Tokyo Japan will join us for an evening of jazz and cultural exchange. Our AM Jazz Ensemble will perform, their band will perform, and there will be some intercontinental jamming. Should be an amazing evening. It’s free, and all are welcome.
2. Tomorrow morning, Rio Band will be featured on “Insight,” a news and talk program hosted by Beth Ruyak on Sacramento’s local NPR station, KXJZ 90.9FM. I’ll be in studio with Sarah Pearlman, Lucas Bere, Emma Hollis, Andrew Stephens and Devan Kortan. We’ll be interviewed and the kids will perform live. Check it out at 9am, or again at 8pm, or streaming on capradio.org
3. Our PM and FM Jazz Ensembles, as well as a combo performed at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival on Saturday. It was another great showing by Rio kids. FM was invited back for the Command Performance, and had them dancing in the aisles! Nolan Cyr won a special award for instrumental excellence, and Duncan McElman won a music lessons scholarship. Solo awards were won by: Combo- Nolan Cyr and Ryan Clark. FM- Duncan McElman, Sean Nelson and Neta Galili. PM- Kyle Nixon and Jackson Stafford. Congratulations to All.