Steven Garcia - Originally from Houston, TX, Steven Garcia graduated from St. Olaf College with a BM in Trumpet Performance and is 2nd Trumpet with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra and performs extensively as a freelancer around the Greater Twin Cities area. He has been involved with various types of ensembles ranging from Orchestral, Jazz, Wind Ensemble, Chamber music, and New Music ensembles, among others.
He was previously Principal Trumpet of the St. Olaf Orchestra, and was also a Member of the St. Olaf Band. With St. Olaf ensembles, he toured around the U.S., Norway, Australia, and New Zealand. He has performed in spaces such as Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall (Minneapolis), Jones Hall (Houston), the Oslo Opera House, Grieghallen(Bergen), the Stavanger Konserthus, and the Nidarosdomen in Trondheim. Steven has also performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, La Crosse Symphony, and the Rochester Symphony. He was recently featured as a soloist with the Bloomington Symphony, performing Stephen Paulus' Concerto for 2 Trumpets with Brad Shermock.
In past summers, Steven has been involved with the Miami Classical Music Festival, where he was a trumpet fellow for 3 summers (2017-2019) in the Festival and Opera Orchestras. There, he received critical acclaim for his performances in Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Mahler’s 5th Symphony. He was also selected to perform at the 2020 Aspen Music Festival (cancelled due to COVID-19). In 2015 Steven placed 3rd in the GVSU (Grand Valley State University) International Trumpet Competition, and 3rd in the Houston Brass Band Young Soloists Competition.
His primary mentors include Martin Hodel, Micah Wilkinson, Manny Laureano, Robert Walp, Garrett Klein, and Vincent Penzarella.
Steven is also a professional photographer and media producer. As a professional photographer, his images have been published online and in various publications such as the St. Olaf Magazine, Star Tribune, Minnesota Bride, and the Wall Street Journal, among other publications. He has worked with clients including St. Olaf College, Walser Automotive, Medtronic, Polestar, Northern Tool, the Porsche Club of America, and more. He also has collaborated with various musicians and artists and has gained a diverse portfolio ranging from portrait, wedding, performing arts, sports, automotive, and fine art photography. Steven currently serves as a part-time Production Assistant and Team Photographer for the Award-Winning Vick Photography Studios in St. Louis Park, MN.
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