Rafael Francisco Toro-Quiñones is a native of Puerto Rico. In addition to leading the North Bay Philharmonic Symphony he is the Commander of the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band, located at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and Commander of the USAF Heartland of America Band, a geographically separated unit located at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

Major Toro-Quiñones entered the Air Force in 1997 as an enlisted member and bassist with the USAF Band of Mid-America. After winning a band officer audition, he received his commission through the Air Force Officer Training School.

Toro-Quiñones has worked as a freelance bassist and conductor in Puerto Rico, the United States and Europe, performed with the San Juan Pops and recorded with the famous Puerto Rican music group Haciendo Punto en Otro Son. 

EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Music in Performance and Philosophy, cum laude, DePauw University

2009 Master of Music in Wind Ensemble Conducting with academic honors, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA

In 2018 he received the Young Artist Conservatory of Music Recognition for Outstanding Contribution, 2018.