Jade Garcia is a teaching artist who strives for an emphasis on thoughtfulness and connection in all that she does. Having earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance at the University of Colorado, Boulder, she continues her music education as a Masters student at the Chicago College for the Performing Arts. Always enthusiastic to make new discoveries, she has gained performance experience as an orchestral and chamber musician, often working closely with composers on new projects. Eager to contribute to a shift away from the lack of representation in classical music, Jade works to thoughtfully program repertoire for both herself and her students.Through these years of study she found music as a reflection of humanity and an access point for her clarinet students to gain deeper understandings of themselves and the world around them. It is this mindset that guides her work in collaboration, community engagement, and teaching.