Dr. Ricardo “Rico” Allen II is an emerging performer and educator from Dallas, Texas. Through his passion for music education, he aims to foster the next generation of young musicians.
As an active performer, Rico has performed at various venues across the United States and Europe. In 2014, Rico traveled to New York City and performed at Carnegie Hall with the Tarleton State University Wind Symphony. In 2016, Rico toured Italy with the Tarleton State University Jazz Ensemble where they gave several performances across the country. In 2017, Rico was the baritone saxophone soloist for David Maslanka’s Hell’s Gate. Rico was selected to perform with both the World Adult Wind Orchestra Project and World Youth Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria from 2018-2023 where he has served as principal soprano/alto saxophone. Rico was the baritone saxophone soloist for the European premiere of Frank Ticheli’s Acadiana. In 2023, Rico was selected along with the UNT Saxophone Ensemble to perform at the XIX World Saxophone Congress in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Some notable artists/composers Rico has worked with include: Steven Mead, Birgit Ramsl-Gaam, the Barcelona Clarinet Players, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Jon Faddis, Wycliffe Gordon, Dave Pietro, John Fedchock, Stockton Helbing, Terrell Stafford, The Four Tops, David Maslanka, and John Mackey to name a few.
Rico Allen
He is an alumnus of Tarleton State University from which he holds the degree of Bachelor in Music Education. During his time at Tarleton, Rico has been the recipient of multiple awards such as, the Center Stage Scholarship, and Concerto Competition winner in both 2016 (Fantasia for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, Smith) and 2018 (Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, Mackey). Rico was selected to participate in the 2018 CBDNA SW Regional Intercollegiate Band where he represented Tarleton as the tenor saxophonist.
Rico completed his Master of Music (Saxophone Performance) degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. During his time at CCM, Rico served as the Graduate Teaching Assistant and Ensemble Manager for the inaugural CCM Saxophone Ensemble. Rico has commissioned several new works during his time at CCM including: Patrick Wickliffe’s Concertino for Soprano Saxophone and Orchestra with the CCM Philharmonia, Andy MacFarlene’s Strasburg No. 90, and Jason Richmond’s A Developing Tautology to name a few. In 2019, Rico performed soprano and tenor saxophone for the world premiere of David Clay Mettens’ UnMasqued with the CCM Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Kevin Holzman. Rico can be heard playing alto saxophone on the 2021 CCM Wind Symphony album Grand Pianola Music.
Rico earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Performance with a related field in Wind Conducting from the University of North Texas College of Music. As an advocate for diversity, his dissertation, Total Praise: An Analysis and Performance Guide of Come As You Are (2020) by Steven Banks, and ongoing research center on broadening the horizons of saxophone repertoire by championing works from underrepresented communities, thus cultivating a diverse and inclusive musical landscape. During his time at UNT, Rico has served as principal soprano/alto saxophone for the North Texas Wind Symphony under the direction of Eugene Migliaro Corporon. In 2021, Rico was the alto saxophone soloist for Joshua Hobbs’ Into the Blue which can now be viewed on the composer’s official website. Rico can be heard as the soprano saxophone soloist for Michael Daughtery’s American Gothic and Paul Dooley’s Manifestos on the 2023 North Texas Wind Symphony albums Respair and Closure.
As an advocate of chamber music, Rico is co-founder of the saxophone quartet Lotus where he currently holds the soprano saxophone chair. As a group, Lotus advocates for diversity. Lotus makes a point to perform works by underrepresented composers each concert and competition cycle. Some of the works performed by Lotus have been: Juba by Florence Price (arr. Ricardo Allen), Hymn by Kati Agócs, Red Pine by Kristin Kuster, Echolocation by Takuma Itoh, and Dwalm by Gemma Peacocke. In 2022, Lotus was selected to perform a recital, and participate in a masterclass with Dr. Timothy McAllister at the 43rd annual International Saxophone Symposium, hosted by the United States Navy Band. Recently, Lotus has been asked to perform a concerto with the world acclaimed North Texas Wind Symphony for their 2023-2024 concert season.
Being a huge proponent of music education, Rico currently has a private saxophone studio where he teaches both classical and jazz students of all ages around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Moreover, Rico is currently the Resident Jazz Saxophone clinician for R.L. Paschal High School. Rico is currently on faculty at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as Adjunct Instructor where he teaches Jazz Appreciation and Hip Hop History and Culture. Rico currently serves as Adjunct Lecturer for Saxophone at the University of Texas at Tyler where he also teaches Music Appreciation.
Rico has studied under Claude Parker, Greg Ball, Dr. Andrew Stonerock, Dr. James Bunte, Rick Vanmatre, Craig Bailey, and Dr. Eric Nestler. Rico’s professional affiliations are Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, North American Saxophone Alliance, Jazz Educators Network, and the Texas Music Educators Association.