Rio Americano Jazz Ensemble To Perform in NYC

By Laurel Hollis

's top jazz ensemble emerged from a competitive field of U.S. and Canadian high school bands to place in the top 5 of 15 finalist groups invited to perform at the Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival next month.

This is the 6th time a ensemble has reached the "Super Bowl of high school jazz" to be held at the Lincoln Center of Performing Arts in New York May 4-6.

Headed by Wynton Marsalis, artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center organization, the festival and competition features judging by jazz luminaries.

directors and Max Kiesner's encouragement of collaboration and camaraderie, as well as discipline and high expectations continue to produce outstanding jazz bands popular with judges and audiences alike.

Ensemble members include: Lucas Bere, Annie Chernich, Joey Cozza, Nick de la O, Jack DuBois, Alex Hyson, Henry Lunetta, Emery Mesich, Taylor Mesich, Brodie Mills, Nogah Ofek, Ben Olson, Garret Olson, Jeric Rocamora, Iris Shanks, Paul Slater, Harry Smith, Nick Stanton, Andrew Stephens and Michael Wang.

Four of the musicians were in other school districts and transferred to Rio so they could participate in the band program with Murray and Kiesner.

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