Antonio Garcia

Antonio J. García is a performer, composer/arranger, producer, clinician, educator, and author in both instrumental and vocal genres and a 2023 recipient of The Midwest Clinic’s Medal of Honor. A Professor Emeritus and the former Director of Jazz Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, his newest book, Jazz Improvisation: Practical Approaches to Grading (Meredith Music), explores avenues for creating structures that correspond to course objectives. His 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. He has performed as trombonist, bass trombonist, or pianist with 70 major artists including Ella Fitzgerald, George Shearing, Mel Tormé, Billy Eckstine, Doc Severinsen, Louie Bellson, Dave Brubeck, and Phil Collins. A Conn-Selmer clinician/soloist and avid scat-singer, he is Past Associate Jazz Editor for the International Trombone Association Journal, Editor of the International Association for Jazz Education Jazz Education Journal, President of IAJE-IL, Advisory Board Member of the Brubeck Institute, and current Board Secretary of The Midwest Clinic. He is Co-Editor/Contributing Author of Teaching Jazz: A Course of Study and the only individual to have directed all three genres of Illinois All-State jazz ensembles: combo, vocal jazz choir, and big band. He served as a Network Expert (for Improvisation Materials) for the Jazz Education Network. His articles and compositions have been widely published. He is a past nominee for CASE U.S. Professor of the Year, the recipient of Northern Illinois University’s 1992 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, the Illinois Music Educators Association’s 2001 Distinguished Service Award, the VCU School of the Arts’ 2015 Faculty Award of Excellence, and the 2021 Conn-Selmer Institute Hall of Fame Award. He currently resides in his native New Orleans.