Biography

Mr. Manuel A. Camacho II earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Miami. He studied euphonium with the late John Olah and studied tenor trombone with Tim Connor, and performed in all of the major ensembles at UM. After graduating, he was offered a Graduate Assistantship in Instrumental Conducting at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, under the tutelage of Eric Rombach-Kendall. He continued his euphonium studies with Dr. Karl Hinterbichler. Once he earned his Master of Music Degree, he moved back to Miami.

Mr. Camacho taught for eight years in Miami-Dade County public schools. As the Director of Bands at Miami Coral Park SHS, his program received Superior ratings in Concert Band, Jazz Band and Marching Band. They were also awarded many accolades including the Grammy Signature Schools Enterprise Award and the Otto Kraushaar Award (earned by making straight Superior ratings in Marching Band and District & State Concert Band evaluations. During his Miami-Dade teaching years, he was twice awarded the College Band Directors National Association Conducting Fellowship Grant, which took him to the Hartt Conservatory to study instrumental conducting with Robert H. Reynolds and Glen Adsitt. The second time he was awarded this fellowship, he had the opportunity to study conducting with Michael Haithcock and Rodney Dorsey at the University of Michigan.

Mr. Camacho is a current member of the Orchid City Brass Band. He plays euphonium, baritone, bass trombone, and he has also been their guest conductor. During the summers, he has taught at the Palm Beach County Band Camp, First Presbyterian Church of NPB Music Conservatory, and beginning the summer of 2019, the FAU Elementary Band Camp.

Before transferring to Jupiter MS, Mr. Camacho was a Band Director at Independence MS for four years. He had a wonderful time there, but was excited to follow in Mr. Destito's footsteps in 2020. Mr. D continues to be a close friend of the JMS band.

Finally, Mr. Camacho was appointed Artistic Director of the Palm Beach Gardens Concert Band, where he has previously served as Associate Conductor. He has a wonderful family with his wife Josephine, who is now the Director of Bands at Osceola Creek MS. Their children are Giacomo, Annabella, and Marina and they live happily in west Lake Worth.