Antonio Garza. Trumpet

Antonio Garza (b. 1990) is an active trumpet player based Des Moines, Iowa. Garza is a member of and performs regularly with the Des Moines Big Band, Parranderos Latin Combo, The Tighten Up and Orquesta Alto Maiz. As a freelancer, he's played lead trumpet for The Temptations, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Nachito Herrera, and Jim McDonough. He's also shared the stage with local groups such as Bob Dorr and the Blue Band, the Brazilian Twins, The Maytags, Goose Town, and the Grand Avenue Ruckus. Performing with various ensembles, he's also appeared on stages at the 80/35 music festival in Des Moines, the Des Moines Jazz Festival, and the Lotus World Music Festival in Bloomington, Indiana.

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Garza attended the University of Northern Iowa where he studied trumpet with Dr. Randy Grabowski and jazz improvisation with Dr. Robert Washut and Christopher Merz. During his tenure at UNI, Garza was a member of a wide range of large group ensembles including: the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra, University of Northern Iowa Wind Symphony, UNI Symphonic Band, UNI Jazz Band One, UNI Jazz Panthers, and the Panther Marching Band​

 

​As a member of UNI's award winning Jazz Band One, Garza held both lead and solo positions in the band. Through Jazz Band One, he has performed with a plethora of artists including: Dick Oatts, Nachito Hererra, John Clayton, Donny McCaslin, Peter Apfelbaum, Kenny Wheeler, and David Berkman. He can also be heard on UNI Jazz Band One's albums, Not With That Attitude, This is the Band, The Hard Way, and Let Go.

 

In 2012, Garza traveled to Italy with the UNI Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Ronald Johnson. In 2013, he traveled to Thailand with UNI Jazz Band One under the direction of Christopher Merz. Both trips served as an enriching cultural and performing experience.

 

In addition to performing, Garza is an active trumpet instructor, teaching beginning, intermediate, and advanced students. He can offer expertise in trumpet fundamentals, lead playing, and beginning jazz improvisation.