Bio

Dr. Paul D. Garcia is a native of Las Cruces, NM. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from New Mexico State University, a Master of Music in Conducting from The University of Tennessee, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Garcia has worked at North Carolina State University since 2003 and has served as Director of Bands since 2006. His duties include conducting the NC State Wind Ensemble and director of the NC State Athletic Bands, including the 405 member Power Sound of the South.

Dr. Garcia is active as a marching band, wind band, and jazz clinician/adjudicator throughout the United States. Under his direction the NC State bands were honored to perform for President Bill Clinton, and twice for President Barack Obama.

In addition to wind band engagements in the United States, he has twice been a guest conductor for La Banda dell’ Esercito, the Italian Army Band in Rome, Italy (2002, 2006). Dr. Garcia conducted the NC State Wind Ensemble in the Sydney Opera House (2008), and his group was the first wind band to be invited by the Vatican to perform at St. Paul’s Basilica in Rome (May 2017). The wind ensemble’s most recent international performances were in London at the Royal College of Music (May 2023) and in San Jose, Costa Rica at the Teatro Nacional (May 2025).

Under Dr. Garcia’s direction the NC State Marching Band has established a respected international reputation. The group performed in Dublin, Ireland for the St. Patrick’s Festival (2010) where they were selected as the best overall band by a panel of international judges. In 2014 the group was one of only three bands from throughout the world invited to perform in Madrid, Spain for the Cabalgata de los Reyes Tres Magos parade. During the summer of 2019, members of the marching band traveled to France to perform in Paris and Normandy as part of the 75^th anniversary celebration for Operation Overlord (D-Day). In May of 2023 the group performed at Cardiff Castle in Wales and at a Premier League match at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Dr. Garcia also maintains an active schedule as a percussionist and drum set artist throughout the United States. He is an alumnus of the Santa Clara Vanguard and holds endorsements from Vic Firth and Sabian. Professional credits include recording with United Brass and performing with entertainers such as Ellis Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Jim Walker, Dave Pietro, Joan Rivers, Don Rickles, and Bob Newhart. He also performed, recorded, and produced shows for Sea World of San Antonio, Texas and Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. In addition, Dr. Garcia has performed with several regional symphonies including the Las Cruces Symphony, Meridian Symphony, Oak Ridge Symphony, Knoxville Symphony, and the North Carolina Symphony. During his drum set studies, he has worked with John Wooton, Keith Brown, Ed Soph, Bob Breithaupt, Steve Houghton, and Gary Chaffee.