| Marc Riccio
Mr. Riccio's Homepage |
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Director of 5th Grade Bands and Symphonic Band |
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B.S. Music Education, Western Connecticut State University |
Marc Riccio began his musical journey in third grade with lessons on piano and guitar. His first guitar was a used acoustic Ovation. It was the only guitar in the store he could reach his eight year old arm around. Since that time his interest, skills, and experience have grown along with him. He is formally trained as a jazz musician and is familiar playing many different styles of music from around the world. His experience includes playing Afro-Cuban/Latin music with the Hartford based band Guakia with Ray Gonzalas as their director. He was privileged to travel with Guakia to Puerto Rico on a good will tour and also was a featured soloist when Guakia was invited to play with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.
Marc also played with the Connecticut Youth Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Reed Garrett, where he was exposed to swing - big band. They traveled to San Francisco and played in Ghiradelli Square, The White House, and were finalists in the Essentially Ellington Competition at Lincoln Center, where Marc received a letter of excellence from Wynton Marsalis.
In high school he split his days between academic studies and intensive jazz training at the Greater Hartford Academy of Arts. While there his Jazz sextet played in the Berkeley H. S. Jazz Festival, international competition. Out of 220 bands his sextet achieved the highest score. He received a scholarship into the Berkeley summer music program. In 2003 under Director Dianne Mower, the Hartford Academy Jazz choir performed as guest artists in the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival. Marc played rhythm support and was the featured instrumental soloist.The next year he was recognized by Down Beat Magazine for the Student Composition Award, and Student Soloist Award.
Marc began sharing his love for music with others as a guitar teacher. Before long he was helping mentor young jazz ensembles and giving demonstrations in his local school system. At age 17, he had his first experience as a band director under the tutelage of the music director Mrs. Lois Sprague. During his senior year in high school, everyday he devoted all of his morning independent study time teaching a band of 125 fourth grade musicians and directed them in their final concert.
After high school Marc attended Western Connecticut State University as a Music Education Major with an emphasis on band direction and performance. While there he served as the house band rhythm guitarist for the audition process. He joined the WCSU Spirit Band directed by Dr. Fernando Jimenez. Marc was its first ever spirit band guitarist and in time was also recognized for his compositional skills. He was hired to choose, transcribe and write arrangements for the ensemble.
During his college years he became proficient at the recording process and the editing technology behind it. He recorded and edited selections for fellow students and faculty, to be used for promotion, competitions, and resume material in graduate degrees.
His performance skills were valued during demonstrations in master classes and as accompaniment for visiting artists. Although junior and senior recitals are not required as a Music Education major, he chose to perform. It was for Marc, a personal statement, about his dedication to musicianship as an integral part of the study of music.
At this time Marc continues to perform professionally, playing a wide variety of music. He is continuously working to enhance his knowledge in music technology and composition to better serve his role as a Music Educator in the Burlington Connecticut school system.
Marc Riccio is the current director of 5th Grade Band, 5th Grade Jazz band, Concert Band, and all corresponding lessons at Har-Bur Middle School.