Mr. Rabito grew up in Texas and earned his B.A. in Music Education at Texas Tech University. He performed trumpet in the Dallas-Fort Worth area: he played with the Richardson Symphony, toured with Ernie Johnson, performed weekly for televised services at Park City Baptist Church, performed with “Emerald City” at the Broadway Grill, and played with several area jazz big bands.

 

Mr. Rabito has been a music educator for 24 years. While in Texas, he started several jazz band programs and worked with marching bands. He was a part of building a highly successful middle school program in Plano, TX, in which over 300 students participated in band every year. There, he started an after-school jazz program and directed the Select Band, which received consecutive Superior Ratings at the UIL Contest.

 

After moving to Colorado for the exciting outdoor opportunities, Mr. Rabito taught at Fountain-Fort Carson High School for 9 years. Under his direction, the Trojan Marching Band made seven consecutive finalist appearances at the 4A CBA State Marching Championships and achieved 3rd Place in 2008. The FFCHS Symphonic Band received Superior with Distinction ratings at the CBA Concert Band Festival. Then for three years, Mr. Rabito was in Conifer, CO, where he ran the entire instrumental music program, including marching band, jazz band, concert bands, orchestra, AP music theory, and other various music classes. Mr. Rabito’s accomplishments at Conifer include being nominated twice for the Schwartz Leadership Award and taking the marching band to three consecutive finalist appearances at the 3A CBA State Marching Championships.

 

This is Mr. Rabito's third year as the Band Director at Orchard Mesa Middle School in Grand Junction, where he teaches beginning bands, several concert bands, and jazz bands. The OMMS Band has received the CBA Exemplary Award for two consecutive years. He looks forward to continuing the success of the program this year.