About the “Rising Star”

A native of Eagle, Idaho, Josh Gentile fills the Treasure Valley with resonant tones and swinging lines. He earned his Master of Music in Performance from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and his Bachelor of Music in Performance and Jazz Studies Certificate from Central Washington University. He was also the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the TAMUK trombone studio under Dr. Oscar Diaz, Jr., where he taught classical and jazz trombone students and directed the TAMUK Jazz Bones. He played bass trombone with the CWU Symphony Orchestra for three years, including a performance at The 75th Midwest Clinic in 2021 and numerous pops and outreach concerts in addition to masterworks performances. 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, and was also a member of TAMUK Jazz Band I, another ensemble with professional recording credits and a Downbeat Magazine award to its name. He studied trombone with Dr. Oscar Diaz, Jr., Dr. John S. Neurohr, and Michael Maier. His jazz teachers include Dr. Keith Karns, Brian Lawrence, and Chris Bruya.

Josh’s tenure in the top trombone ensembles at TAMUK culminated in winning the International Trombone Association’s 2025 Emory Remington Trombone Choir Competition and performing the winner’s showcase concert at the International Trombone Festival in London, Canada. In 2024, Josh competed as a finalist in the bass trombone competition at the Big 12 Trombone Conference at Texas Tech University. 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 low brass 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 who have earned positions in all-state honor groups and been admitted to competitive collegiate music programs. His arrangements and original music have been performed by nationally-recognized trombone quintet Tromboteam!, Boise Serenata Orchestra, 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. As a commissioned composer, he has written solo works for Jonathan Warburton, Matthew Gallegos, Wesley Nielsen, and Dylan White. He also commissioned Austin-based jazz pianist Joseph Hernandez to write Axiom for bass trombone and piano and gave the world premiere.

As a leader committed to service, Josh has fulfilled the roles of Graduate Student Representative and Chair of the TAMUK School of Music Student Council, Graduate Officer of TAMUK Trombone Association, Founder and President of Javelina Jazz Collective, Senator of CWU Trombone Club, and Secretary of Javelina Powerlifting. His interests outside of music include competitive powerlifting, cooking, and psychology.