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