About Florian Raqueño Productions
how it started
Truly for the love of music…Florian grew up in a household where music was always playing, songs sung and dancing, lot of dancing. Throughout life, she realized how much joy music brings to people, the stories of lives, situations, hopes and dreams can be found in a song. But the most important realization is how music brings people together, no matter the age, culture, race or any other “difference.”
Stepping into unfamiliar territory is nothing new for Florian. She stumbled into some musicians at a jam in McMinnville, OR, and they started a classic hits band. With zero experience in the music industry they were booked weekly despite Florian being so new to the industry.
Fast forward to February 2022, when Florian approached long-time friend Marie Johnson about forming a live music-based company. Florian could have sworn she heard Marie’s eyes roll, “Here she goes again…”
Ideas were quickly put into action with the First Annual Tigard Music Fest in July 2022, and Florian fell in love. The worries that no one would show up quickly disappeared as flocks of people streamed in that Friday night. And the best part? Witnessing the different folks who watched, danced, laughed, ate, drank and sat next to each other.
“I believe music has the power to bring communities together. Period.”
the team
Florian Raqueño,
Founder
The woman making the connections.
Born in Naic, Cavite, Philippines, Florian Raqueño is a self-proclaimed Navy brat who traveled alongside her mother and siblings wherever her father was stationed. She grew up in humble surroundings and learned the importance of connecting with people through gracious, integrous, and authentic actions modeled by her parents.
Florian’s parents sacrificed so their children could live the American dream. Her mother was a farmer’s daughter, and even with the family’s strongest objections, her mom put herself through college and graduated at age 28 with a math degree, and then taught at Western College in the province. Florian credits her own drive, perseverance and determination to her parents, saying “Once I have a vision, it’s coming to life and I’ll reach that goal.” She likes making things happen.
Her adventures and love for discovery made a foodie out of Florian. Her most nostalgic food and favorite is a Japanese dish, sukiyaki, which she tasted for the first time when her dad was stationed in Sasebo, Japan. She also embraces the tastes of her motherland, especially kare kare, palabok, lumpia and sinigang.
Florian graduated Cum Laude from the University of Houston School of Journalism with a degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Radio-Television. She acted as one of the original account executives in what is now the largest media and PR firms in the Southwest, interned at the Emmy-award-winning investigative unit for the ABC-owned station, KTRK-TV, and worked as a print and broadcast reporter in Houston.
The foodie (who ironically doesn’t like to cook) initially had dreams of becoming a fashion designer, then a desire to live in New York City as a network news reporter. Life, however, decided her next adventure was going to be even more epic – a baby girl. As Florian was named after a movie character, so would her eldest daughter, Audrey Hepburn’s “Sabrina.” Three years later, her incredible son, Antonio, was born. Florian’s family is the world to her.
Though Florian wanted to be a rock star during her off-time, she, unfortunately, found out she dances better than she sings. It was during a jam in McMinnville, Oregon when she spotted and listened to Gary Markham, whose vocal range and sound impressed her enough to ask if he had a band, and if so, where they played.
With no contacts in and zero knowledge of the music industry, Florian was only armed with her drive/vision and goal to succeed. She booked a band every week by meeting venue owners, inviting people to listen and sending emails that pitched the songs and sounds. Florian was a natural!
Since then, numerous bands and solo artists have asked Florian to represent them. This led Florian to create Florian Raqueño Productions with the mission of connecting artists, venue owners and the audience through music and events. Florian believes in the power of music and is excited to enter the next phase of her life.
Her most relaxing moments are spent with family and friends, traveling, and eating, and most likely enjoyed with wine. Oh, and she really loves to shop and feels you can never have enough shoes!
Ariel Thatcher, Executive Assistant
Ariel’s love for music developed at a young age and was nurtured through her participation in choirs, and later, performing in musicals. While her path didn’t take her to Broadway, Ariel did go on to get a degree in experiential design with the desire to create events that provide a venue for artists to share their talents with audiences that share the same love of music!
Marie Johnson, Operations Manager
Marie is an avid music fan, especially live performances, including musical theatre. For the past 24 years, in between part-time work and raising a family, she has been an active volunteer in her local and global communities. Her organization, public speaking, and technology skills have allowed her to help multiple non-profits with marketing, bookkeeping, auctions, policies, and procedures, contract management, social media and website development, just to name a few. As a Rotarian, she is active with Rotary Youth Exchange and engages with students from around the world, enriching her cultural understanding and building relationships worldwide.
These relationships have also broadened her love of different styles of music. She is amazed at how music connects people together! Her early work as a public accounting computer information systems auditor created a solid foundation for her current abilities to manage client relationships, delegate, coordinate staff, and streamline business processes.
As the Chief Operations Officer, her main role is to ensure FRP events run efficiently and smoothly and in a financially responsible manner, allowing attendees to enjoy live music festivals in their own communities.
Ashley Ackins, Social Media
Ashley was born and raised in beautiful McMinnville, Oregon. Growing up, she was involved with a lot of community service projects, events, and groups. While attending McMinnville High School she had the honor of getting an award named after her called the Ashley Acker Award for Altruism.
Patrick Collins, Sound & Stage Operations
Patrick’s passion for the trumpet started in 4th grade and quickly expanded to FrenchHorn and any three valve brass instruments. He played throughout high school and junior college and in 1969 headed to UNLV with a full music scholarship.
At age 19, Patrick left school to tour with Little Richard in the US and Canadian tour. Patrick then toured with Mass Confusion and the Clarke Expedition. In the early70s, Patrick left the road to learn the studio side of the music business as Quality Control Manager at Custom Fidelity Records in Hollywood. This is where he honed his “dog ear” skills, while learning to manufacture pressed vinyl records. It was at Custom Fidelity where he met his mentor in the Disc Mastering field, Kent Duncan, founder of Kendun Recorders, and Patrick’s sound career began.
He spent the next six years at Kendun mastering albums for artists including Earth, Wind and Fire, Heart, Joe Walsh, Deep Purple, Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, Barbra Streisand and many hundreds more. After Kendun, Patrick joined Cherokee Sound as second engineer and worked with bands such as Burton Cummings, Norton Buffalo, The Band and Jon-Luc Ponty.
Patrick was fortunate to work with legendary producers, Bob Margoleff, Malcom Cecil, Keith Olsen, George Massengberg and Roy Thomas Baker, among others.
His Mastering awards include: Golden Reel awards for Fleetwood Mac “Fleetwood Mac” and Chuck Mangione “Feels so Good”.
Grammy winning projects include: Stevie Wonder“Innervisions”, Stevie Wonder“Fulfillingness First Finale”and Steve Martin “Let’s Get Small”.
After a successful studio career, Patrick turned to live sound, mixing for Jon-Luc Ponty and Bad Axe, whose bassist, Dana Strum, later founded Slaughter.
Patrick and family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1984, where for the next 30 years he played lead trumpet in Big Bands, rock and R&B bands, directed and played in a Christian big band and was Principal Cornet in the Peninsula Symphonic Band. He also continued his passion for recording live sound, focusing on music for education in high schools and colleges.
In 2018 Patrick and his wife, Megan, co-founded At the Garages Satellite Pub in Beaverton, where Patrick designed the sound system and ran the board. His care and commitment to producing quality live sound earned him a well-known reputation in the Portland-Metro music scene.
Though he retired from the pub ownership in November 2021, Patrick continues to stay busy mixing sound and playing trumpet throughout Western Oregon.
dance the night away
Florian Raqueño Productions is here to provide endless entertainment and experiences. Learn about the bands we contract with and the professional band and festival management services we provide.