Ernesto Rivas, M.M. has dedicated his life to music for the past 23 years as a multi-instrumentalist musician, composer, performing songwriter, recording engineer, and music instructor.  Based out of North Carolina, Ernesto has vast performance experience, working with numerous musicians and performance groups over the years, performing in venues across the greater Southeastern United States, and as far west as Colorado. 

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Ernesto has been featured on a number of recordings, from a self-produced EP under the project title The Audio Transport Agency, "Home is Never The Home" (2006), to performance contributions on releases with Blackpoint’s "Let Us Make A Scene" (2012), The Several Devils "Chicken Fried Voodoo" (2016), and his most recent creative project, Buster Jangle, releasing the 2023 EP, "La Petite Mort".  For a full list of Ernesto's discography, please click the Discogs link below.

Ernesto has interned with multi-award-winning engineers Glenn Tabor and Wade Starnes at GAT III Studios in Charlotte, NC, in addition to working with guest producer Mark Endert (Madonna, Maroon 5, Fiona Apple), earning assistant engineering credits on Chynna (Phillips) and Vaughan’s "One Reason" (Reunion, 2009), and "Scriptunes Volume 5" by various artists (Upward, 2009).  Ernesto’s music compositions have been used for promotional videos on Film House Inc.’s demo series Pride In Service for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Services.

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Ernesto received a B.S. in Music Industry Studies from Appalachian State University, and an Master of Music in Music Business and Entertainment Industry from the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, a program that consistently ranks as one of Billboard Magazine's top 10 music business programs in the country.  He has also studied under the guidance of Dr. Virginia Driscoll and Dr. Adrienne Steiner at East Carolina University's Music Therapy Program. 

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Other music programs that Rivas has studied at include UNC Pembroke; Appalachian State University’s Hayes School of Music; and the A.J. Fletcher School of Music at East Carolina University.  Ernesto was a performing member in both the UNC Pembroke and Appalachian State Jazz ensembles, receiving an award for outstanding musicianship at the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley’s International Jazz Festival in 2005.  Other past university performance groups include the UNCP Pep Band, App State Guitar Orchestra, and the Methodist University Vocal and Improvisation Scholarship programs.  Ernesto is a member of ASCAP, NSAI, and the Audio Engineering Society. 

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Mr. Rivas is currently a public school Orchestra Director for Cumberland County Schools, as well as offering private music lessons for various stringed instruments.  Ernesto has a series of arrangements and compositions available for guitar ensemble, chamber ensemble, and other works through online sheet music outlets: Sheet Music Plus, Sheet Music Direct and more.  Ernesto's current performing groups include local favorite Dead City Symphony; his creative original music project known as Buster Jangle; the Moore County Philharmonic Orchestra; in addition to "work for hire" opportunities.  

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“The benefits of learning and playing music are enormous, and its healing power is scientifically proven.  Music is with us in everything we do, enhancing our life experiences - from our lowest moments and most enduring struggles, to our most profound and joyous celebrations - music is there.  It's hard to imagine ceremonies, significant life events, or even just daily chores without music.  I've been very fortunate to meet so many people in all walks of life, literally from infancy to long-term care facilities, I've worked with countless numbers of folks through music, and I've experienced first-hand, that music is essential to improving the quality of life for everyone.”

-    Ernesto Rivas