About the “Rising Star”

Josh Gentile is the Graduate Teaching Assistant for Dr. Oscar Diaz, Jr.’s trombone studio at Texas A&M University- Kingsville, where he teaches classical and jazz trombone students. He also arranges for and directs the TAMUK Jazz Bones.

Josh earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance and a Jazz Studies Certificate from Central Washington University, where he studied trombone with Dr. John S. Neurohr and jazz with Chris Bruya, Brian Lawrence, and Dr. Keith Karns. For three years, he played second and lead trombone with the Downbeat Magazine award-winning CWU Jazz Band I and premiered several original arrangements with the band, including one with guest artist Akiko Tsuruga. He played bass trombone with the CWU Symphony Orchestra for three years, including a performance at The 75th Midwest Clinic in 2021 and many pops and outreach concerts in addition to masterwork performances. He is currently a member of TAMUK Jazz Band I, an ensemble with professional recording credits and a Downbeat Magazine award to its name. He studies trombone with Dr. Oscar Diaz, Jr. and has been a student of Dr. Sarah Paradis, Prof. Jorge Rodriguez, and Michael Maier.

In 2024, Josh was a finalist in the bass trombone competition at the Big 12 Trombone Conference. In 2022, he was bass trombonist for the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy Big Band Session, directed by Christian McBride and faculty from the University of Miami Frost School of Music. As an educator, he taught trombone lessons, jazz, and chamber music and presented masterclasses on composition and scale practice at the Boise State University Low Brass Camp in 2022 and 2023. He also maintains a private studio, teaching in-person and online students. His arrangements and original music have been performed by nationally-recognized trombone quintet Tromboteam!, Boise Serenata Orchestra, jazz ensemble Out of Order, CWU Jazz Band I, TAMUK Jazz Bands I and II, TAMUK Jazz Bones, TAMUK Full Trombone Choir, and Kingsville Winds, including a world premiere at the International Trombone Festival 2024. He also regularly performs his own music with small jazz groups.

Josh has previously served as Senator for the CWU Trombone Club and currently serves as Graduate Officer for the TAMUK Trombone Association, Graduate Student Representative for the TAMUK School of Music Student Council, and Secretary for the TAMUK Powerlifting Team, on which he is a competing athlete. He is also the jam session organizer for the TAMUK School of Music.