Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
The Rio Grande Valley Jazz Orchestra, a community jazz band, was founded by long time Jazz Director at Harlingen HS TX, Ronnie Rios. Mr. Rios serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor for the RGVJO. The purpose of the organization is to provide talented music educators an opportunity to perform in a big band at a high level for students and communities in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas to enjoy. These communities in the RGV see 38.4% of residents living below the poverty level with many students attending Title I schools throughout the area. The ensemble is comprised of almost all music educators who reside in Harlingen and Brownsville, Texas (no professional musicians participate). Rehearsals are held at The Performing Arts Center at Harlingen CISD two to three times a month while in season with consideration of ensemble members availability. The group enjoys a 6-7 month season ending with a grand performance at the RGV Jazz Festival that sees over 25-30 area ensembles participate. All performances have been free and open to the public and have received overwhelming enthusiasm.
Rio Grande Valley Jazz Orchestra
Conductor's Bio
Ronnie Rios is a graduate of Alice High School, Texas. He graduated Summa Cum Laude earning a Bachelor of Music Education and a Masters in Music Education from Texas A & M University- Kingsville. At 21, he began teaching in the Kingsville ISD where his middle school and high school Concert Bands received consistent UIL Sweepstakes awards and Best in Class awards at various State and National festivals. His Jazz Ensembles also received Best in Class and numerous “Outstanding Band of the Festival” awards. He had All-State Band and Jazz Band students and led the Marching Band to the Texas State Marching Band Championships in his last year.
As Director of Bands at Harlingen High School for 21 years, all Six Concert Bands received consistent UIL Sweepstakes awards, Best in Class, State and National awards and All-State Band and Jazz Band students. The Harlingen High School “Big Red” Cardinal Marching Band made Ten consecutive appearances at the Texas State Marching Band Championships, qualifying every opportunity since 1998. The group also earned positions in the finals of Bands of America Regional Championships, where they won the school’s first Regional in 2005. The Marching Band has also won numerous 1st Place Festival Awards and Grand Champion Marching Band Awards throughout South and Central Texas. The Concert Band advanced to the Texas 6A Honor Band Finals four times finishing as high as 9th in Texas. The Jazz Ensemble has received consistent Best in Class and numerous “Outstanding Band of the Festival” awards. The Jazz Ensemble was a featured performing group at the IAJE convention in New York City. They also performed and served as a featured group to Duke Ellington’s music with guest Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center. The Jazz Ensemble has also performed Twice at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago and was recently named the Honor Jazz Ensemble for the State of Texas and showcased at TMEA in San Antonio. The Jazz Ensemble has also shared the stage with artists Bob Mintzer, Michael Brecker, John Fedchock, Conrad Herwig, Mike Steinel, Woody Witt, Armin Marmolejo, Dennis DiBlisio and most recently, Arturo Sandoval. Mr. Rios’ groups have performed throughout Texas, as well Florida, California, New Jersey, Washington DC, and Central Park in NY City. In 2011, the Harlingen HS band was named the Texas Bandmasters Association “Exemplary High School Band Program of the Year” in Texas.
Mr. Rios is currently the Director of Music Programs in the Harlingen CISD, Texas. He has been named to the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers numerous times and was also named Teacher of the Year in the Harlingen CISD. Mr. Rios received the Distinguished Citizen Award by the community of Harlingen and is also a past Texas Young Bandmaster of the year recipient. He is a member of TMEA, TBA, TMAA, TJEA, Phi Beta Mu and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is the Past President of IAJE-Texas, TJEA, past TMAA Vice-President and served as the TMEA Texas State Band Chair. He is currently the TMEA Area G Band Chair. Mr. Rios has served as a clinician and adjudicator in Texas, Arizona, Kentucky, Georgia, Nevada, California, New Mexico and Indiana. He currently serves as an active adjudicator for UIL, DCI, and BOA.
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