Welcome to the Rio Americano High School Music Program
Great Kids, High Expectations, and World Class Music
Our Programs
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Concert Band Program
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Jazz Band Program
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Orchestra Program
Josh Murray
Director
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.
jomurray@sanjuan.edu
Mitch Evett
Director
Mitch Evett grew up in Vernon Hills IL, a suburb of Chicago with a storied high school music program. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Instrumental Music Education from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN and a Master of Music Education degree from American Band College. Previously, Mitch taught high school and middle school band in Shakopee, Minnesota and was the assistant conductor for the City of Lakes Community Band. Mr. Evett began teaching at Rio Americano in 2019. He has a passion for instrumental conducting and continues to play trombone and sing in the Sacramento area. Mitch spends his free time staying active, playing videogames, and spending quality time with his wife Britta and their two cats Loki and Astrid.
mitch.evett@sanjuan.edu
Victor San Pedro
Director
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 Music.
victor.sanpedro@sanjuan.edu
Concert Band Program
New Students to Concert Band
Virtually all new students to the Rio Band program will be enrolled in either Advanced Concert Band or Intermediate Concert Band, both of which are taught during the same class period. During the first weeks of school, these students will audition for placement into one of the classes. The audition may consist of scales, a prepared piece, and sight reading. Students will be placed into the group in which they will be most successful, without regard to past place mentor current grade level. Once placed, students may re-audition at the Directors’ discretion.
Returning Students in Concert Band
All students returning to the program will have been auditioned the previous spring to determine their preliminary placement for the current year. They are assigned to the band that most appropriately fits their ability and need (i.e., Intermediate Band, Advanced Concert Band, or Honors Concert Band), without consideration of grade level. During the first week of school, students will be chaired based on their performance in sight reading, an assigned excerpt, and scales. Once placed, students may re-audition at the Directors’ discretion.
Jazz Band Program
Prerequisite
Students must be concurrently enrolled in a Concert Band, Orchestra, or Small Ensemble (if eligible) to participate in a Jazz Band. There are many reasons for this rule:
In order to have small jazz band classes, we must offset the numbers with large concert band classes.
Essential theory and ear training concepts are only taught in concert bands.
Concert bands are the heart of Rio Band. Everyone’s presence is essential.
New Students to Jazz Band
Virtually all new Jazz students will be enrolled in FM Jazz Ensemble, where they will learn Jazz techniques, theory, improvisation, history, and how to Swing Hard!
Returning Students to Jazz Band
Returning jazz students will audition in the spring to determine their preliminary placement for the fall, and they will be placed in either 0 period (AM and PM) or FM jazz. Some shifting may occur in the fall due to specific band needs and changing student abilities. Students placed in zero period jazz will re-audition during the first week of school and then be placed into either the AM or PM or FM Jazz Ensemble. Re-auditions may occur at the semester or at the discretion of the directors.
Orchestra Program
Orchestra
String orchestra is the newest addition to the Rio music program. It continues to grow each year and is always welcoming new members. Prior experience playing a string instrument is recommended. The curriculum focuses on tone production, music literacy, music theory, ear training, and developing ensemble skills all while studying a wide breadth of styles of time periods of music.
Small Ensemble
(Smamble)
This one-of-a-kind course is for the advanced student who is interested in working independently or in small groups on selected music projects. Students may build a combo or small ensemble of any style or instrumentation. They may work on composition or arranging. They may woodshed on a special presentation. They may develop a second or third instrument. The possibilities are limited only by one’s musical imagination. There are numerous ‘Smamble Nights’ throughout the year, where the students show off their creativity and hard work. See the calendar for dates.
Eligibility
Juniors and Seniors who are taking a Concert band class may be eligible for Smamble, with approval of the Directors. Smamble is designed only to be a second or third band class for students, taken concurrently with a concert band. Seniors may be eligible for Smamble without a concert band, provided they are enrolled in a Jazz Ensemble AND have completed Honors Concert Band.
What is Playathon?
Playathon is a Rio Music tradition dating to 1981. It is our main fundraiser, a concert featuring all of our groups and a major community event. We perform for the public and reach out to our feeder elementary and middle schools. The money we raise buys music, instruments, supplies, provides travel opportunities, and generally allows Rio Music to continue as a first-rate program. Basically, it’s a blast for all!
All Rio Band and Orchestra students participate in Playathon, and it is a mandatory event. It is an important bonding experience for the students, and a major concert. Feeder elementary and middle school band students are invited to play along with the Rio bands in the afternoon. Parents are encouraged to attend the evening concert, featuring all of Rio’s concert and jazz bands. Food is provided for band students, and parent chaperones supervise the students throughout the entire Playathon. Specific themes and activities are developed year-to-year so that every year’s event is unique.
YouTube
The Rio Music YouTube channel is the main place to watch recordings of Rio Music performances. You can find concerts, festivals, and special events from across the program. The channel also features Playathon videos, student projects, and other content that highlights the work of Rio musicians.
Photos
This section holds images (stored in Google Drive) that are taken by Rio Music students and by professional photographers who support the program.
