José Israel García, Jr. (he/she/they), better known as Joey, is a collaborative teaching artist, stage director, & writer born, raised, & based in Brownsville, TX. This summer, Joey joins the Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS staging staff as Assistant Director for the remounting of Kevin Newbury's production of Jimmy López's Bel Canto, as well as Francesca Zambello's new production of Mozart's Idomeneo. Recent projects include a new production of Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World with the Camille Playhouse in Brownsville, TX--for which Joey served as stage director & conductor.

Joey has traveled the country working production with various opera companies, including Red River Lyric Opera, Spotlight on Opera, Chicago Summer Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and the PROTOTYPE Festival with Beth Morrison Projects. Joey collaborates with various studios as a voice & acting coach, offering one-on-one lessons with the Brownsville Piano Studio, as well as community-based group classes with the Brownsville George Ramirez Performing Arts Academy--an organization providing art, music, & dance education to low-income communities at little to no cost. Joey's commitment to diversity, equity, & justice brought them to Modulation Institute--an organization offering identity-affirming voice, speech, & music lessons geared towards transgender & non-binary folks.

In addition to Joey's production & community work, they are an active & passionate educator. Joey is a part-time lecturer at Texas Southmost College--where they teach Music Appreciation, Ear Training, and Voice Classes. Prior to earning their graduate degree, Joey taught choir & theater in South Texas public schools--where their students consistently earned regional, state, and national accolades.

Joey holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Education from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley--where the founded the campus a cappella group. Joey also earned their Master of Music in Opera Production & Directing from the Florida State University College of Music--where they consistently created performance opportunities for colleagues amidst a life-altering pandemic.