Technical Sergeant David Gonzalez, Jr is the associate principal trombonist of The United States Air Force Concert Band, based out of Joint Base Anacostia Bolling in Washington, D.C.
Gonzalez is a native of Brownsville, Texas and holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin (B.M. in Trombone Performance), and Ohio University (M.M. in Trombone Performance and M.M. in Brass Pedagogy). He has also completed his doctoral coursework (D.M.A in Trombone Performance and Pedagogy with a minor in conducting) at the University of Georgia.
Gonzalez has a diverse performance history as a commercial, jazz, and classical player. He worked as a show band musician for Carnival Cruise Lines, has subbed in with the Airmen of Note, and has also played with The Ludwig Symphony Orchestra, River Cities Symphony Orchestra, and the Ohio Valley
Symphony Orchestra. Sergeant Gonzalez was one of five tenor trombone participants in the 2014 Alessi Seminar, held in Fossano, Italy.
Gonzalez is also a committed music educator. Most recently, he served as the adjunct professor of trombone at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and at McKendree University where he taught private lessons, managed small ensembles, and ran the jazz ensemble. He has also taught collegiate-level courses in music theory, low brass methods, and jazz. Gonzalez also teaches private lessons to students of all ages and playing levels.
Gonzalez enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2014 and began his assignment at Scott Air Force Base in the Band of Mid America. During his time with the Band of Mid America, Sergeant Gonzalez toured with the Concert Band, Airlifter Brass Quintet, and Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble. Gonzalez joined The USAF Band in 2018.
“On my Edwards, I feel like I can easily produce the sound I need to fit any situation. As a soloist, in a jazz ensemble, in the concert band or in the orchestra, my Edwards helps me achieve the character and style I choose with a world-class sound that is consistent throughout.”