"expert jazz educator"
Down Beat

 

"...a nationally noted
jazz artist/educator in his own right...

...splendid solos...
...virtuosity and musicianship...

...ingenious scoring...
shrewd arrangements...
...exotic orchestral colors, witty riffs, and gloriously uninhibited
splashes of dissonance...
...translucent textures and
elegant voicing throughout...

...one of the most prominent young
music educators in the country."
Chicago Tribune

 



 

In December 2023 Tony received The Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor was introduced in 1962 "as a way to honor conductors, educators, composers, and others whose unique service to music education and continuing influence on the development and improvement of bands and orchestras deserve special recognition." Just over 100 individuals have merited the award since its inception, including Leonard Slatkin, Morton Gould, Howard Hanson, Elizabeth Green, Karel Husa, William D. Revelli, Jacquelyn Dillon, and one of his own teachers, Arnold Jacobs.


In the jazz-influenced world recipients include Clark Terry, Doc Severinsen, Ellis Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Candido Camero, Sammy Nestico, Jamey Aebersold, Richard Dunscomb, Mary Jo Papich, Janis Stockhouse, and (saxophonist) Ron Carter. Said Tony to the Midwest Board of Directors: "You have bestowed upon me the highest honor of my career and—other than my family—the highest honor of my life."

ANTONIO J. GARCÍA is a performer, composer/arranger, producer, clinician, educator, and author in both instrumental and vocal genres. A Professor Emeritus and the former Director of Jazz Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, he received the VCU School of the Arts' 2015 Faculty Award of Excellence for teaching, research, and service; Northern Illinois University's 1992 Excellence in Teaching Award; Conn-Selmer Institute's 2021 Hall of Fame Award; is a past nominee for CASE U.S. Professor of the Year; and in 2023 received The Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor. García has performed as trombonist, bass trombonist, or pianist with 70 major artists including Ella Fitzgerald (50 concerts), Phil Collins (30-concert U.S./European tour),

"He can be in my band whenever he wants."
Phil Collins

Scat-singing is a constant part of García's performing and teaching career.

photo credit:
Jean-Philippe Cyprès

Read Tony's
"Evolution of a Career."
 

and Mel Tormé (20 concerts). A Conn-Selmer clinician/soloist avid scat-singer, he has received grants from Meet The Composer, the Thelonious Monk Institute, The Commission Project, the Council for Basic Education, and others. He is Past Associate Jazz Editor of the International Trombone Association Journal, Past Editor of the International Association of Jazz Educators Jazz Education Journal, Past President of IAJE-IL, Board member of the Midwest Clinic and Past Board member of the Illinois Coalition for Music Education, Network Expert for Improvisation Materials for The Jazz Education Network, and Co-Editor/Contributing Author of Teaching Jazz: A Course of Study. His articles have been widely published; and his compositions have been published by Kjos Music, Hal Leonard, Kendor, Doug Beach, Walrus, UNC Jazz Press, Three-Two Music Publications, ejazzlines, and his own company. His book, Cutting the Changes: Jazz Improvisation via Key Centers (Kjos Music) offers musicians of all ages the opportunity to improvise over standard tunes using just their major scales. García currently resides in his native New Orleans.

Performing on bass trombone e with the
Phil Collins Big Band
(Collins drumming at far left)

photo credit:
Montreux Jazz Festival

Sharing a bow with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall after their performance of his commissioned work.

"Inspirational teaching is the edge that makes Antonio García an exceptional educator. In the jazz idiom much needs to be communicated aurally and by example. Many fall short, but not so with Tony: his delivery is solidly backed up with fine trombone performance and considerable vocal ability. His excellent scat-singing reflects his philosophy that aural vocalization is the seminal teaching tool in the art of jazz performance. Jazz Australia clinicians must be flexible, comfortable working with the advanced and novice across the full age range. Tony excelled, gaining acceptance and respect at all levels and building a genuine rapport with his students and peers. Perhaps the recommendation that is most telling is that Tony was immediately asked to return for the next year's Jazz Australia—the first time that an overseas visiting artist has had this honour in the event's six-year history."
Patrick Crichton, then-Head of the Jazz Department, Western Australian Conservatorium of Music,
Perth, Western Australia; Artistic Director, Jazz Australia;
then-Australasia Representative, IAJE Board

 

García regularly accompanies students and has performed on piano in a variety of jazz settings.

photo credit:
Allen Jones

 

 

The mission of this web site is to provide background, news, and views of the artist, plus educational resources and selected links.

 

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on the Downloads page.
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