MUSIC DIRECTOR

RAY PEDROZA

Ray Robert Pedroza was born in San Bernardino and grew up in Colton and New Orleans. Ray began his musical career at age 7, playing marching snare drum with the Colton Cavaliers Drill Team. At age 10, in fourth grade, Ray began playing in the school band on concert snare drum. Within a few years, Ray joined the San Bernardino Vagabonds Drum & Bugle Corps and then the Anaheim Kingsmen Drum & Bugle Corps. In 1976, Ray was named Drum Captain and Most Outstanding Freshman for the Colton H.S. Yellowjacket Marching Band. During this time, he also received many Superior ratings and medals for his performances at Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association Solo & Ensemble Festivals.

After freshman year, Ray abruptly moved to New Orleans, where he attended Brother Martin H.S.  Ray joined the Stardusters Drum & Bugle Corps, who went on to win 2 consecutive Mid America Circuit Championships in the summers of ‘78 & ‘79. As a senior at Brother Martin, Ray was selected and named 1st Chair Percussionist in the Louisiana All-State Band on timpani. Ray returned to Colton H.S. to graduate in June, 1980.

In the Fall of 1980, Ray briefly attended L.S.U. Baton Rouge, where he studied with Dr. John Rausch on timpani and marimba. In Spring of 1981, Ray moved to New Jersey to march with the Garfield Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps, finishing in 8th place at the DCI Championships in Montreal, Canada. Ray returned to California in 1982 and became an undefeated World Champion with the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps from Concord. In 1983, Ray finished his drum corps career winning the Top Drumline Award with the Blue Devils, instructed by Tom Float and Scott Johnson.

Ray’s instructional career began in 1984 with many local high school drumlines, including Ramona, Etiwanda, and John North. In 1986, Ray joined the instructional staff of the Riverside Community College Marching Tigers, directed by Gary Locke. For the next 3 years, Ray instructed, wrote the drum score, and was snare captain as they won every college band competition they attended and toured to Vancouver, Canada, Tokyo, Japan, Orlando, Florida, and Waikiki, Hawaii.

In 1990, Ray returned to New Orleans to begin his college career at Delgado Community College, studying with Dr. Lee Beach from the New Orleans Philharmonic, and Johnny Touche’ on Jazz drum set. During this time, Ray began to play extensively with local theaters, including the La Petite Theater, the Saenger Theater, and the New Orleans Rec. Dept. Children’s Theater. After receiving the Associate of Arts Degree, Ray went on to the University of New Orleans, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education in 1996.

Ray’s teaching career began at Arabi Park Middle School and then Archbishop Shaw H.S., both in New Orleans. In 1998, Ray returned to California to become Director of Bands at Moreno Valley H.S. During this time, Ray began playing with the Moreno Valley Community Band and Junior University Children’s Theater. Ray also spent many years with the Riverside Children’s Theater, including 2 years as Musical Director. In 2007, Ray left the high school and became a district substitute for all grade levels K-12.

In 2022, Ray began conducting the Riverside Swing Ensemble and eventually became the drummer also. In 2023, Ray became Music Director and conductor for the Riverside Concert Band. Eventually, he would become the drummer for the Riverside Jazz Combo as well. In his spare time, Ray is a singing drummer with his band Jazzworks. 

In 2025, Ray retired after 29 years in the classroom.

ASSOCIATE MUSIC DIRECTOR

AUSTIN DAVIS

Austin Davis is the Associate Director of the Riverside Concert Band in their hometown of Riverside, California. Previously, Austin held a post as Assistant Conductor for the Aiken Symphony after filling in for their Music Director on a subscription concert. They also spent a week conducting a string orchestra and coaching young conductors during the South Carolina Philharmonic Youth Orchestra’s inaugural Advanced String Camp in the summer of 2024.

Austin studied conducting at the University of South Carolina with Dr. Scott Weiss. As a student at South Carolina, Austin taught the school’s Campus Orchestra and was the assistant conductor for the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra. They additionally hold degrees from the University of Redlands, where they studied orchestral conducting with Co Nguyen and wind conducting with Dr. David Scott. At Redlands, Austin was the assistant conductor of both the University of Redlands Orchestra and the Symphonic Band, with whom they received finalist awards for the American Prize in Conducting and the Ernst Bacon Award for the Performance of American Music. They conducted many of the university’s chamber groups, including the brass ensemble for the University of Redlands’ Feast of Lights and the string ensemble for a performance of Catrin Finch’s Celtic Concerto. The University of Redlands chapter of the Pi Kappa Lambda Musical Honor Society inducted Austin as a member in 2018.

A long time attendee of the Cascade Conducting Masterclass, Austin has been mentored by Sarah Ioannides, has worked closely with the composition students of David Ludwig for the Cascade Composers Workshop, and was the inaugural recipient of the organization’s scholarship for Indigenous conductors. Austin has additionally studied with Ioannides as part of the Curtis Mentor Network and has been mentored by Neil Thompson at the Los Angeles Conducting Workshop.

Austin developed a passion for performing new works through years of close collaboration with the composition studio at the University of Redlands, through which they rehearsed, performed, and recorded new works by student composers. Austin has also worked with several upcoming composers with the Cascade Conducting Masterclass and the Cascade Composers Workshop. As a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Austin is enthusiastic about championing the works of Native American composers. While studying at South Carolina, they collaborated with fellow Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate to write a dissertation on Native American nationalism in classical music. Austin has presented multiple lectures on Chickasaw history and culture, as well as how they relate to Tate’s compositions.

For more information go to https://www.austinpdavis.com/