Teaching at the Titan Jazz & Art Festival.

photo credit:
Trinity Episcopal School

"Thank you! You are without a doubt one of the finest All-State Conductors I have ever had. Your outstanding student rapport, vast knowledge, and experience, along with a teaching technique that rivals a trained veteran master teacher, were an inspiration to us all.... On behalf of our Nebraska Music Educators membership and, of course, most importantly the students, thank you for helping to create what I believe was one of the best jazz ensembles we have had in a very long time."
Roger Groth, NMEA All-State Jazz Band Coordinator

 

The Midwest Clinic
Recipient, The Medal of Honor, 2023.

U.S. Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
Nominee, CASE "U.S. Professor of the Year" (of 434 nominees nationwide), 1992.

GarciaRCHSed

Teaching at
Richmond Community High School
with pianist Wells Hanley.

photo credit:
Greg McCallum

 

Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA)

García leads the VCU Jazz Orchestra I in concert.
Photo credit: Jean-Philippe Cyprès

Professor Emeritus, effective Fall 2022. Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2001-2022, with tenure. Recipient of the VCU School of the Arts' 2015 Faculty Award of Excellence for his teaching, research, and service. Director of Jazz Orchestra I, Instructor of Applied Jazz Trombone, Small Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Theory and Aural Skills, Music Industry. Director, Greater Richmond High School Jazz Band. Duties included the first revision of the B.M. Jazz Studies curriculum in 25 years, plus increasing jazz program visibility; has fundraised $5.5 million in external gift pledges for the VCU Jazz Program, with hundreds of thousands of dollars already in hand.

Founder, Jazz 4 Justice/VCU Jazz concerts, raising an average of $10,000 a year for VCU Jazz scholarships and area pro bono legal services. Read about Social Justice and VCU Jazz.

The partnership he created between VCU Jazz and the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music at the University of KwaZulu-Natal merited the 2013 VCU Community Engagement Award for Research.

Founder of a previous B.A. Music Business Emphasis.

Founder of the VCU Jazz Studies Student Grant program, encouraging original research or creative work by students under the close supervision of a faculty member.

VCU student pianist Thomas Lunsford and VCU Greater Richmond High School Jazz Band pianist Calvin Brown with VCU guest pianist Mulgrew Miller.

photo credit:
Antonio García

"I travel all over the world; but to get a chance to work with such great musicians and in this kind of circumstance has been really amazing experience for me. And I learned a great deal watching Tony because he's such an incredible communicator and leader. He has the respect of all these musicians, and he deserves it. And it's just great to watch."
Scott Colley,
VCU Guest Jazz Bassist

"It's clear to me that this band is doing the right thing. I have heard a level of musicianship and groove from this ensemble that I do not often hear in university jazz bands."
Wycliffe Gordon,
VCU Guest Jazz Trombonist, following his
performance with the VCU JO I
at The Midwest Clinic
"As one of García's motives is to prepare his apprentices for any musical challenges they may encounter, the large ensemble faces down and vanquishes charts by composers as disparate as Sammy Nestico ('Ya Gotta Try') and Charles Mingus ('Don't Be Afraid, the Clown's Afraid, Too'), Woody Shaw ('Beyond All Limits') and Oliver Nelson ('Black, Brown & Beautiful...." García arranged Ray Santos' Latin powerhouse, 'Sunny Ray' and lends his trombone to the Faculty Septet on 'Bright Moments' and Freddie Hubbard's 'The Core,' soloing on the latter....García and the VCU Jazz Orchestra are definitely on the right track. The ensemble is admirable, the soloists respectable, the smaller groups tight and focused. A sparkling session by a first-class undergraduate orchestra and guests."
Cadence
regarding the VCU Jazz CD
"A Joyful Noise"

Regularly contracting guest artist/clinicians to visit VCU. The 2011-12 year, for example, included guest violinists Mat Maneri and Zach Brock; clarinetist Lori Freedman; saxophonists Jeff Antoniuk, Steve Wilson, and Bob Mintzer; trumpeters Graham Breedlove and Taylor Barnett; guitarist Ayman Fanous; pianists Wade Beach and Patrice Rushen; bassists Tom Baldwin, Mat Wigton, Joshua Davis, and James Genus; drummers Emre Kartari, Fred Kennedy, John Riley, and Billy Kilson; drummer and composer John Hollenbeck; our artist in residence, trumpeter John D'earth—plus co-hosted vocalist Ayca Gunduz; vibraphonist Jon Metzger; pianist Xavier Davis; bassist Matthew Parrish; drummer Harry "Butch" Reed; ethnomusicologist Lara Pellegrinelli; the No BS! Brass; and presented guest-performing adjunct faculty and additional alumni—plus an off-campus session with the legendary composer/producer Quincy Jones. Coordinating coalitions of various VCU Departments—such as African American Studies, Multicultural Affairs, Libraries, English, Music, Communication Design, and the Activities Planning Board—towards co-funding and publicizing guest-artist visits.

Regularly engaging professionals to visit the Music Industry class and offer their first-hand expertise and advice, including attorneys, studio engineers and owners, freelance vocalists and instrumentalists, music critics, union representatives, music publishers, arts executives, venue owners and managers, accountants and tax representatives, and agents and artist-managers.

Founder, "Experiencing Music" appreciation class at VCU, resulting in well over 100 students per semester, adding their attendance to VCU concert and rehearsal audiences.

Executive Producer, VCU Virginia High School Jazz Piano Competition, High School Jazz Composition Competition, "Jazz Soufflé" Faculty Workshop Series, and Jazz Day.

Author of the VCU Jazz E-Newsletter to over 2000 area high school directors, high school jazz students, VCU Jazz Students Fund donors, former VCU jazz students, area residents, and local and international media.

 

García leads the Hanover All-County High School Orchestra in dress rehearsal.

 

Guest artist Bobby McFerrin and his Voicestra along with members of the NU Vocal Jazz Ensemble directed by Antonio García.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I am familiar with his professional output, both musically and educationally. His comments are most insightful and useful. Students admire his intensity and commitment to the arts and sincerely appreciate his educational direction."
Dennis Tini, Past President, IAJE; Music Chair, Director of Choral Activities, and Co-Director of the Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media Division, Wayne State University

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
Associate Professor of Music at Northwestern University 1993-2001, tenured Fall 1999. Coordinator, Combo Program; Former Director, Vocal Jazz Ensemble; Guest Director, Jazz Ensemble (all of which were selected for performance at the 1997 IAJE Conference). Coordinator of Jazz Studies, National High School Music Institute. Instructor of Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Theory, The Business of Jazz, Jazz Perspectives, Concepts in Jazz Pedagogy, Seminar in Jazz Pedagogy, Teaching Jazz Improvisation; independent studies in Jazz Arranging, Composing for the Musical Theatre, Composition; and Integrated Arts courses Art Process, Modes of Music. Guest-Lecturer of Instrumental Methods, Teaching Composition in the Schools, Performance Practice and Criticism, Jazz: Elements, Sounds, Gestures; Guest Director of Jazz Lab Band, Trombone Choir, Millar Chapel Choir. Advisor to undergraduate and graduate students in jazz studies, music performance, writing for the musical theatre, and cross-campus double-degree programs.

Performing with the legendary bassist Ray Brown. photo credit: Camela Rao (left), David Fodor (right)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tell me, and I forget.
Show me, and I will remember.
Involve me,
and I will understand.

—ancient Chinese proverb...
and García's educational philosophy

Co-Author, B.M. Jazz Studies degree program. Duties include the creation of seven new courses and extensive revision of four others, plus ongoing jazz workshops open to the general university and community population; increasing jazz visibility via WNUR-FM, newspapers and jazz periodicals, creating brochures for the curriculum and an Internet web site, resulting in a 120% increase in attendance at jazz concerts since his arrival. Author of thousands of dollars of grants approved for use by the NU Jazz program.

"The simplicity of several processes, especially voicing and harmonization, was quite surprising. Studying with him really helped to demystify the process: gathering, organizing, and producing material is more clear. The task of composing seems less daunting. Seeing the sketchwork for his compositions provided insight into the steps of revision necessary to effective composing."
Geoff Hamilton, my private jazz composition student at Evanston Township High School via my residency through a grant from The Commission Project, quoted in the IAJE Jazz Educators Journal

Contracted 13 guest lecturers for The Business of Jazz; contracted or assisted with the contracting of the majority of guest artists appearing at Northwestern, including Danilo Perez, Peter Erskine, Fareed Haque, Ray Brown, Ron Blake, Gary Burton, Darmon Meader, Chris Vadala, Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Rufus Reid, Max Roach, Zim Ngqawana, Christian McBride, Don Shelton, Joshua Redman, Paul Wertico, Eddie Palmieri, Bobby McFerrin, John Clayton, The Lincoln Center Orchestra Jazz Sextet, Barry Harris, Paulinho García, Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Sheila Jordan, Billy Higgins, Vocal Nation, James Moody, Jim Walker, Jim Snidero, Judy Roberts, and Michele Weir.

 

Presenting honorary proclamations from President Clinton, Vice-President Gore, and other dignitaries in honor of guest artist Max Roach.

photo credit:
NU Pick-Staiger

 

Artist In Residence
Repeated grants from Meet The Composer, The Thelonious Monk Institute, and The Commission Project for extended residencies at Deer Path Middle School, Evanston Twp. High School, Highland Park High School, and Harvard Junior High School (IL). Additional grants from The Council for Basic Education, The Selmer Company, and other institutions.

 

 

 

Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL)
Assistant Professor of Music and the first Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University, 1987-1993. Promotion to Associate Professor with tenure approved, effective Fall 1993. Instructor of Arranging I & II, Improvisation, Introduction to Jazz Studies, Jazz Theory, Music Industry, Jazz Pedagogy, Jazz History and Literature, and as many as ten combos; advisor to jazz emphasis majors, to selected Individualized M.M. candidates, and to B.A./B.G.S. candidates pursuing arts administration internships/tracks.

"Your years of dedication to music and music education have more than earned you the public recognition and honor you have received. It is always a great pleasure to see a deserving individual recognized.... Thank you for your years of dedication to MENC and the Virginia Music Educators Association. Your devotion and hard work over the years have helped shape both the national and state organizations. People like you have helped influence the evolution of MENC into the organization it is today."
John J. Mahlmann,
Executive Director, MENC: The National Association
for Music Education

Director, Jazz Lab Band, the recipient of nearly thirty jazz festival awards in the initial three years, financially self-sufficient. Guest Director, Jazz Ensemble. Student arrangers received national publication and awards including Down Beat Awards in Original Composition (1993), Extended Composition (1993), Jazz Arranging (1990), and Studio Recording (1992). Immediate duties in 1987 included creation of four revised and three entirely new courses necessary for initiating the B.M. Jazz Performance emphasis. Increased student performance experience via an additional twenty-five jazz concerts over the previous year. Subsequent duties included creation of jazz "jury" and "barrier" requirements, on-going revision of curricula, expansion of jazz faculty, acquisition of library resources, drafting of brochures/ads for the emphasis, the contracting of guest artists, and the contracting of thirty-five different guest lecturers for the Music Industry class. Author of thousands of dollars of grants approved for use by the NIU Jazz program. Director of NIU Summer Jazz Camp (1993); Instructor of Improvisation & Combos, NIU Summer Arts Experience (1988-1992);

Offering remarks during the Singleton Center Celebration.

photo credit:
Eric Norbom

Instructor, NIU Elderhostel Program (1989-90, 1992). Appointed to Senior membership on the Graduate Faculty. Selected by Northern's music students as their nominee for the university's "Excellence in Teaching Award" (1991); received the award upon re-nomination by the university (from over 1200 full-time faculty, 1992).

"'Tony was the greatest addition to our faculty in my 28 years at Northern,' says [founding director of the Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble Ron] Modell. He says García introduced the school's pioneering Music Industry class, which opened lots of career doors for music majors, and that García's work with the Jazz Lab Band guaranteed him annual infusions of capable players for his world-famous ensemble.'"
Ron Modell, as quoted in Skokie Life

Leading a participant
jazz trombone choir performance at the International Trombone Festival.
photo credit: Chris Fower. Copyright International Trombone Festival, Inc.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 "Use Illinois resources...
right here in our state we have a variety of vocal jazz educators
the likes of Tony García."
IMEA Illinois Music Educator
(during my residency in IL)		   "...The IAJE convention is one of the premier venues for vocal jazz performance in the world, and the Northwestern University Vocal Jazz Ensemble performance exemplified the high standards to which we all aspire.... It was great hearing Darmon Meader solo with your group. Congratulations on a wonderful performance. I appreciate all of your efforts on behalf of music education."
Dr. Stephen Zegree, then-Chair, IAJE Vocal Jazz Committee

A quartet from García's Vocal Jazz Ensemble performs with guest Darmon Meader at the IAJE Conference.

 

"On behalf of TMEA and the entire Band Division let me offer up a heartfelt thanks for sharing your musical expertise and passion for teaching with our Texas All-State students. Thank you for providing such a wonderful and challenging program for everyone involved. The membership was certainly pleased by the concert, but more importantly, the word from the students was incredibly positive about their rehearsal and concert experience. Congrats on the added street cred! Thanks for making the convention a memorable one for them. Your professionalism and high musical standards were a huge asset to the entire event! Hope to have you back in Texas sometime in the future."
Andy Sealy, Texas Music Educators Association State Band Chair

See García interviewed regarding jazz pedagogy here and here.
See his brief answers to "Five Questions" about the creative process: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5.

Check out the 13-minute Nicholas Smith documentary on moments from
the VCU Jazz Orchestra I directed by Antonio García,
"Show the Love." Click on the image below.


Read Tony's "Evolution of a Career."

Previous editions of Antonio García's periodic E-Newsletter can be found on the Downloads page. To subscribe, e-mail him.)

 

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