Tom Garland teaches applied trumpet at Colorado Mesa University, bringing more than 45 years of experience as a professional musician and music educator to his teaching. He has taught individual trumpet students, master classes, and brass sectionals at middle schools and high schools throughout Western Colorado. He has also served as a guest director for university jazz ensembles and as an adjudicator and clinician for District 51 Solo and Ensemble competitions. His private trumpet studio in Grand Junction is currently in its 14th year.
Garland established his professional career in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he performed in more than 20 professional productions of Broadway musicals and recorded for television, cable, and radio. While studying at San Jose State University, he performed as lead trumpet with jazz legend Joe Henderson. His professional work also includes performances and recordings with the Vern Brooks Latin Jazz Orchestra and The Intrinsics, a Bay Area R&B band whose performances included musicians from Tower of Power and Santana. He has also performed with the Palo Alto Symphony and San Mateo Chamber Orchestra.
Since moving to Colorado, Garland has maintained an active performance career, performing with the Grand Junction Symphony, Western Colorado Jazz Orchestra, GJ Rockestra, and numerous jazz ensembles, church brass ensembles, and orchestras throughout the region.
His broad experience in classical, jazz, commercial, and musical theater settings influence his teaching and gives his students a practical perspective on the many opportunities available to professional musicians.
In 2018, Garland founded Garland Brass Instruments, a mobile specialty music business focused on professional trumpets and brass instruments. The business provides musicians with the opportunity to personally play and compare professional instruments before making a purchase, reflecting Garland's longstanding interest in helping musicians find instruments that best suit their individual playing.
Garland established his professional career in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he performed in more than 20 professional productions of Broadway musicals and recorded for television, cable, and radio. While studying at San Jose State University, he performed as lead trumpet with jazz legend Joe Henderson. His professional work also includes performances and recordings with the Vern Brooks Latin Jazz Orchestra and The Intrinsics, a Bay Area R&B band whose performances included musicians from Tower of Power and Santana. He has also performed with the Palo Alto Symphony and San Mateo Chamber Orchestra.
Since moving to Colorado, Garland has maintained an active performance career, performing with the Grand Junction Symphony, Western Colorado Jazz Orchestra, GJ Rockestra, and numerous jazz ensembles, church brass ensembles, and orchestras throughout the region.
His broad experience in classical, jazz, commercial, and musical theater settings influence his teaching and gives his students a practical perspective on the many opportunities available to professional musicians.
In 2018, Garland founded Garland Brass Instruments, a mobile specialty music business focused on professional trumpets and brass instruments. The business provides musicians with the opportunity to personally play and compare professional instruments before making a purchase, reflecting Garland's longstanding interest in helping musicians find instruments that best suit their individual playing.