While many Rio students spend the first weeks of May studying for and taking AP tests, participants in the AM jazz band will be performing at Essentially Ellington, a nationwide competition for high school jazz bands held in New York City, paying tribute to jazz legend Duke Ellington. 

Only a few schools are selected to attend each year, and this year is Rio’s first time attending since 2021.

The process begins at the start of the school year. Shortly after being placed into the different levels of jazz bands, Rio students receive the music provided by the festival, and then spend months preparing for recordings. 

“The audition process is both creative yet strenuous,” said senior violinist and bassist Lila Cesar. “I was featured on violin in two of the tunes. Not only did I have to learn my parts, I had to learn the language of jazz on an instrument made for classical music.”

In mid-January, the results came out.

“When we found out we got in, it was unbelievable,” said senior pianist Salome Ospina. “Some people were in shock, others screaming, crying tears of joy, laughing.”

The band will perform at the prestigious festival from May 7-11 at the Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. AM jazz will also participate in extensive workshops and training during the event.