Rio Band Families,
We received word this morning that a Rio group has been selected as one of only three HS groups nationally to participate and compete in the Charles Mingus Festival, put on by Mr. Mingus’s widow, Sue Mingus at NYC’s Manhattan School of Music in February. This is the sixth time Rio has been selected for this festival. Rio was chosen as the HS winner in 2013 and 2014.
Congratulations are due to:
Nick Augusta
Adam Bly
Jason Danielson
Chris Harris
Duncan McElman
Sean Nelson
Hannah Oldfield
If you’re not familiar with the music of Charles Mingus, he’s well worth checking out, as his bass playing and (especially) his compositions are among the most important in jazz history. A good album for a Mingus starting point is his 1959 masterpiece “Mingus Ah Um”.
Josh Murray
Band Director
Rio Americano High School
Sacramento, CA
rioband.net