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Miguel Garcia-Bender

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Music Education

Email: Nevin.Garcia-Bender@unt.edu

Education

  • MEd, Roosevelt University, 2013
    Major: Violin

Professional Positions

    Academic - Post-Secondary

  • Instructor, String Music Education, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2024 - Present).

Professional Memberships

  • Texas Music Education Association. (September 1, 2024 - Present).
  • American String Teacher Association. (August 1, 2019 - Present).
  • College Music Society. (August 1, 2019 - Present).
  • National Association for Music Education. (August 1, 2019 - Present).
  • Associated Chamber Music Players. (January 1, 2018 - Present).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • MUAG 1121 - Strings Class, 2 courses.
  • MUAG 1221 - Strings Class, 2 courses.
  • MUCS 4000 - Senior Capstone in Critical Studies in Music and Society, 1 course.
  • MUED 4109 - Methods and Materials for Teaching Instrumental Music in Elementary Schools, 2 courses.
  • MUED 4209 - Music Performance: Instrumental, 2 courses.
  • MUGC 5900 - Special Problems, 1 course.

Teaching at Other Institutions

  • Westminster College, Fall 2024.
  • Northwestern University, Spring 2023.
  • Northwestern University, Spring 2023.
  • Northwestern University, Spring 2021.
  • Northwestern University, Fall 2019.
  • Roosevelt University, Fall 2019.

Directed Student Learning

  • Dissertation Committee Member, Instrumental Studies. (October 1, 2025).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, "Pedagogy of Love," Music Education. (December 10, 2024).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Chair, "Embracing Student Autonomy in the Middle School Orchestra Classroom," Music Education. (August 14, 2024 - January 30, 2025).
  • Undergraduate Honors Thesis Chair, "Incorporating Harp Into The Modern Orchestra Classroom," Music Education. (August 30, 2024 - December 10, 2024).

Awards and Honors

  • Finalist, Grant Park Orchestra. (July 1, 2017).
  • Finalist, Boston College. (May 1, 2011).
  • Soloist, Boston College. (March 1, 2011).
  • Soloist, Boston College. (January 1, 2007).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book Chapter

  • Garcia, M. Musical Development. Teaching Music Performance: A Guide for Evidence-Based Pedagogy. Melbourne, Australian Music Examinations Board.

Presentations Given

    Oral Presentation

  • Garcia , M. (Author & Presenter), AERA Annual Conference, Hopeful Possibilities for Graduate Music Education, American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America. (2024).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Garcia, M. (Panelist), Society for Music Teacher Education Biennial Conference, On Being Black, Brown, and Asian in a Field of White: A Panel by Students of Color Society for Music Teacher Education, Society for Music Teacher Education, (online), United States of America. (2021).

    • Paper

  • Garcia-Bender, N. (Author & Presenter), American String Teachers' Association National Conference, Navigating the AI Revolution: Essential Insights for String Teachers, United States of America. (2026).
  • Garcia , M. (Author & Presenter), National Association for Music Education Biennial Conference, Experiences of Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive Music Educators, National Association for Music Education, National Harbor, Maryland, United States of America. (2022).
  • Garcia , M. (Author & Presenter), Big Ten Academic Alliance Music Education Conference, Transgender Students in Schools: A Review of Literature for Music Educators, Big Ten Academic Alliance, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).

    • Poster

  • Garcia , M. (Author & Presenter), Annual Conference, Musical Identity and Adolescence: A Narrative Study, Illinois Music Educators Association, Peoria, Illinois, United States of America. (2023).
  • Garcia , M. (Author), Big Ten Academic Alliance Music Education Conference, Musical Identity In Adolescence: A Narrative Study, Big Ten Academic Alliance, Rosemont, Illinois, United States of America. (2022).
  • Garcia , M. (Author & Presenter), Big Ten Academic Alliance Music Education Conference, Gender Identity in Music Education, Big Ten Academic Alliance, (online), United States of America. (2021).
  • Garcia, M. (Author & Presenter), Illinois Music Educators Association Annual Conference, The Possibility of Complexity: Transgender Identity in Music Education, Illinois Music Educators Association, Peoria, Illinois, United States of America. (2021).
  • Garcia , M. (Author & Presenter), Big Ten Academic Alliance Music Education Conference, Antiracist Teaching Practices for Music Educators, Big Ten Academic Alliance, (online), United States of America. (2020).
  • Garcia , M. (Author & Presenter), National Association for Music Education Biennial Conference, Unpacking the Relationships Between Musical Identity and Identity Development: An Intrinsic Case Study of a Middle School Orchestra, National Association for Music Education, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).

Artistic and Professional Performances and Exhibits

  • Music - Adjudicator, Clinician, or Consultant. Dubois, S.L., Gollo Delgado, S., Garcia-Bender, N., "N. Garland ISD All State/Region Workshop", N. Garland High School/Roy Enriquez, Garland, TX, United States of America. (September 30, 2024).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Fellowship

  • Garcia-Bender, N., "Ph.D. Fellowship," sponsored by Northwestern University, Private, $546000 Funded. (2019 - 2024).
  • Garcia-Bender, N., "Graduate Writing Fellowship," sponsored by Northwestern University, Private, $6000 Funded. (2022 - 2023).
  • Garcia-Bender, N., "Fellowship," sponsored by Aspen Music Festival, Private, $5000 Funded. (2011 - 2011).
  • Garcia-Bender, N., "Fellowship," sponsored by International Music Academy, International, $3000 Funded. (2010 - 2010).
  • Garcia-Bender, N., "Fellowship," sponsored by International Music Academy, International, $3000 Funded. (2009 - 2009).

    • Grant - Research

  • Garcia-Bender, N., "Boston College Research Grant," sponsored by Boston College, Private, $3000 Funded. (2010 - 2010).

Service

University Service

  • Faculty Advisor, UNT TODA. (January 1, 2026 - Present).
  • Faculty Advisor, ASTA at UNT. (September 1, 2025 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Ricco Ethics Award Panel. (November 1, 2024 - Present).
  • Director, String Project. (August 1, 2024 - Present).
  • Faculty Advisor, UNT ASTA. (August 1, 2024 - Present).
  • Director, UNT String Project. (August 1, 2024 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Ricco Ethics Scholarship Committee. (October 8, 2024 - January 30, 2025).

Professional Service

  • Adjudicator, Denton High School. Denton, TX. (February 1, 2026 - Present).
  • Adjudicator, Downing Middle School. Denton, TX. (February 1, 2026 - Present).
  • Adjudicator, Marcus High School. Denton, TX. (February 1, 2026 - Present).
  • Adjudicator, Rodriguez Middle School February 2026 All Ensembles Ezra Hood, Dir. Oak Point, TX. Oak Point, TX. (February 1, 2026 - Present).
  • Adjudicator, Vandeventer Middle School. Frisco, TX. (February 1, 2026 - Present).
  • Adjudicator, Downing Middle School. Lewisville, TX. (February 1, 2025 - Present).
  • Adjudicator, Strickland Middle School. Denton, TX. (February 1, 2025 - Present).
  • Adjudicator, UNT ASTA. Denton, TX. (October 1, 2024 - Present).
  • Adjudicator, St. John’s School. St. John, MI. (May 1, 2023 - Present).
  • Adjudicator, Montgomery Village High School. Rockville, MD. (March 1, 2018 - Present).
  • Adjudicator, D.C. Youth Orchestra Program. Washington, DC. (January 1, 2010 - Present).