News
RE jazz program sets milestones in February
Two Ransom Everglades jazz combos – the RE Combo and the Blue Note Combo – qualified for the state performance assessment for the first time in school history as the RE Combo earned its 12th-straight bid. Both groups earned the top rating of Superior at the Florida Bandmasters Association District 20 Music Performance Assessment in mid-February in Tavernier, Fla.
Florida Bandmasters Association State Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessment takes place March 20-22 in Wellington, Fla.
The revamped jazz program is co-taught by Director of Arts Shawn Costantino and Director of Instrumental Music Jon Hamm. The students in the class perform in separate combos as well as together in a big band setting. The RE Combo, directed by Hamm, performed "Tell Me A Bedtime Story" by Herbie Hancock. The Blue Note Combo, directed by Costantino, performed Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night In Tunisia."
The revamped jazz program is co-taught by Director of Arts Shawn Costantino and Director of Instrumental Music Jon Hamm. The students in the class perform in separate combos as well as together in a big band setting. The RE Combo, directed by Hamm, performed "Tell Me A Bedtime Story" by Herbie Hancock. The Blue Note Combo, directed by Costantino, performed Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night In Tunisia."
Earlier in February, the RE Combo ushered in Black History Month for the 26th straight year with an upper school assembly performance alongside local astronaut Winston Scott. Scott, a jazz musician and professor, has performed with the RE Combo in the past. RE's jazz students performed "Red Clay" by Freddie Hubbard and the Duke Ellington hit "Caravan", which was featured in the movie Whiplash. Then, for the first time in school history, the combo followed up with a second performance of the show at the RE middle school.
RE Combo
Miguel Arango '24, Trumpet
Ari Bennett '24, Tenor Sax
Santi Sauceda '24, Piano, Musical Director
Isabel Chong '24, Bass
Max Bast '23, Drums, Leader
Blue Note Combo
Varun Raju '24, Alto Sax
Carlos Horcasitas '25, Baritone Sax
Martin Piedrahita '24, Trumpet, Leader
Will Malone '24, Trombone
Sofia Rakhimi '25, Piano
Eric Wilson '24, Bass
Griffin Nelson-Montet '25, Drums
Middle School
2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 250 6850
Upper School
3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 460 8800
Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.