RICARDO ROBINSON-SHINALL currently serves as the Visual and Performing Arts Specialist for the School District of Manatee County. Prior to joining the district office, he spent 15 years at Braden River High School in Bradenton, Florida, where he directed the Color Guard and Musical Theatre programs. Under his leadership, theatre students consistently earned superior ratings at district and state Thespian festivals, including multiple Top Honors performances. During his tenure, the Marching Band of Pirates achieved six Florida State Championships, and the Braden River Winterguards were perennial finalists in the Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit (FFCC) and WGI Regional competitions.
Originally from Mississippi, Ricardo attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he served as Color Guard Captain/Coordinator and Drum Major for the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band. He directed the Petal High School Color Guard, leading them to numerous state and regional championships, and spent a decade as Color Guard Director/Coordinator for the East Central Community College Wall O’ Sound Band.
Ricardo’s choreography, design, and consultation credits span the globe, including work with Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, University of South Florida Winterguard, McEachern High School (GA), Jackson Academy (MS), Denham Springs High School (LA), Amor Independent Winterguard (AL), Optemystic Independent Winterguard (MS), eMenience Indoor Percussion Theatre (MS), Lafayette High School (LA), University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Tampa Bay Thunder Drum and Bugle Corps, and the two-time DCI SoundSport Champion Medellín Gran Banda from Colombia.
A respected adjudicator and clinician, Ricardo has judged top programs nationwide and has served on the Bands of America/Music for All Summer Symposium Color Guard staff since 2003. Most recently, he was the Color Guard Caption Head for The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps during the 2024 and 2025 DCI seasons. Ricardo currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit, is Assistant Director for Pageantry Arts Honor Society, sits on the Advisory Board for Our Marching Counts, and is a member of the Planning Committee for The Cookout. Ricardo is also a host and producer for the On A Water Break Podcast