As an active performer, Rico has performed at various venues across the United States and Europe including Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Congress Hall in Schladming, Austria. As an advocate of chamber music, Rico is co-founder of the Lotus saxophone quartet where he currently holds the soprano saxophone chair. 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. 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 currently serves as Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Tarleton State University teaching applied saxophone, chamber music, and directs Jazz Ensemble II. He also serves as Adjunct Instructor at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he teaches General Music courses such as Jazz Appreciation, What’s Hot in Popular Music, and Hip Hop History and Culture. 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.