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Ronnie Rios
Ronnie Rios

Role(s):

Bands of America Adjudicator, Educational Advisory Team

Specialties:

Band

Affiliations:

Ronnie Rios, a multi-Grammy Nominated Music Educator, is a graduate of Alice High School, Texas. He graduated Summa Cum Laude earning a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master in Music Education from Texas A & M University- Kingsville.

At 21, Mr. Rios began teaching in the Kingsville ISD, TX 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, TX 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 11 consecutive appearances at the Texas State Marching Band Championships, qualifying every opportunity from 1998-2018. The group also earned positions in the finals of the 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. His Concert Bands at Harlingen H.S. (& eventually Port Isabel H.S. as well) have advanced to the TMEA Honor Band Finals numerous times finishing as high as 9th in Texas. His Harlingen H.S. Jazz Ensembles have 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. His Jazz Ensembles have also performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago three times and HHS was named the Honor Jazz Ensemble for the State of Texas and showcased at TMEA in San Antonio. His Jazz Ensembles have shared the stage with artists Bob Mintzer, Michael Brecker, John Fedchock, Conrad Herwig, Mike Steinel, Woody Witt, Armin Marmolejo, Dennis DiBlisio, Terell Stafford, and Arturo Sandoval. Mr. Rios’ groups have performed throughout Texas, as well as Florida, California, New Jersey, Washington DC, Illinois, and Central Park in New York City. In 2011, the Harlingen H.S. Band was named the Texas Bandmasters Association “Exemplary High School Band Program of the Year” in Texas.

Mr. Rios is currently the Director of Instrumental Music for the Port Isabel, Texas Band Programs. He has been named to the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers numerous times and was also named Teacher of the Year. He received the Distinguished Citizen Award by the community of Harlingen, and is also a past Phi Beta Mu “Texas Young Bandmaster of the Year” recipient. He was even recently awarded the prestigious Texas Bandmasters Association “Meritorious Achievement Award.” Mr. Rios also created and serves as the Artistic Director for the community group – Rio Grande Valley Jazz Orchestra. He has also performed with this group at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago and shared the stage with the World Famous Count Basie Orchestra. 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, Utah, California, New Mexico, and Indiana. He currently serves as an active adjudicator for UIL, DCI, and BOA.