Rico Allen

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. 
Rico is an alumnus of Tarleton State University (BME) and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (MM). 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. 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.  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.
More information can be found at www.ricoallen.com

Bachelor of Music Education: Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX, 2018 (Music Education)

Master of Music: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Cincinnati, OH, 2021 (Music Performance)

Doctor of Musical Arts: University of North Texas Denton, TX, 2024 (Music Performance )