Arturo Gonzales

Saxophone

Arturo “Artie” Gonzales, originally from Mercedes, Texas, studied music education at Texas A&M University-Kingsville focusing on saxophone under the the tutelage of James Warth and bassoon studies with Dr. Nancy King-Sanders.

During his time at TAMUK Gonzales was a member of the Symphonic Band on oboe, English horn, bassoon, and saxophone. He also performed in the university’s flute choir and in the Concert Band on clarinet to round out the woodwind family. As a member of the TAMUK Symphonic Band Gonzales was able to perform at the 2001 Texas Music Educators Association Convention and the 2002 College Band Directors National Association Regional Convention. He was also a member of The Pride of South Texas – Javelina Marching Band and was a saxophone section leader for 3 years.

As a saxophonist, jazz was also a big part of Gonzales’ collegiate experience. He performed in TAMUK Jazz Bands 1 and 2 regularly. He had one huge performance with Bobby Shew in 2003 at the TMEA Convention. The 2003 TAMUK Jazz Band was named Winner of DownBeat Magazine’s 2004 Jazz Big Band Undergrad Category out of all entries submitted from schools across the United States and Canada. Other jazz artists Gonzales has performed with in this setting include Ernie Watts, James Moody, Paquito D’Rivera, Ed Shaughnessey, and Peter Erskine.

Gonzales also enjoys playing in musicals and has played in a number of them including Gypsy, The King and I, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Kiss Me Kate, The Pirates of Penzance, and Into The Woods (which he has done on two separate occasions on different books). Aside from musicals, Gonzales performed extensively in the big band scene in the Corpus Christi area with The Eddie Galvan Orchestra beginning in 1999 til Mr. Galvan’s 50+ year old band finally played its last gig as well as with other South Texas jazz legends including Beto Leal, Lee Martinez, and Jon Perez.

Upon moving to San Antonio in 2009 and taking a year off from performing with any groups, Gonzales joined the Heart of Texas Concert Band in 2011 on saxophone and has since performed on flute, clarinet, oboe, English horn, and bassoon when he has been needed to step in.

Gonzales is an alumni of the Epsilon Delta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. He sits in the band directly in front of one of his musical inspirations, his high school band director from Mercedes High School, Rene Guzman. He currently works in music education retail in San Antonio and the surrounding areas and is a musical instrument collector. Aside from music Gonzales is a sports fan, very much a foodie, and enjoys trivia and puzzles. He thanks his family and close friends for their unwavering support and appreciates your patronage both online and in person.