A Message from the Composer

My passion for music was ignited in the small town of Woodville, California, under the mentorship of directors like Mr. Glen Gilden and Mr. Dale Anderson. That experience—growing up in a rural program—shaped my entire career. Later, while studying at CSU Fresno under the guidance of Dr. Lawrence P. Sutherland, Dr. Gary P. Gilroy, and Dr. Michael Caldwell, I realized that my true calling was to bring that same high level of musicality back to the community schools that raised me.

I know firsthand the challenges of finding music that sounds sophisticated without over-extending a developing ensemble in small rural community schools. My mission with Ricardo Stevens Music is to provide small-school solutions. When I sit down to write, my priority is accessibility without compromise. My goal is to ensure that students in every community—regardless of school size—have access to creative, engaging repertoire that makes them feel like the world-class musicians they are becoming.

Ricardo Stevens