About Glenda

Growing up in a suburb north of Atlanta, Georgia, Glenda showed an early interest in music and by age 8 began tinkering around with the trumpet. This only seemed natural having grown up in a family with two older brothers who had had a lot of success playing the instrument in the school band. She immediately demonstrated a high aptitude on the trumpet and her abilities blossomed. Wanting to perform for almost anyone, her older brother, Gary, persuaded his trumpet teacher to 'listen to my little sister play.' Following that encounter, she began studying trumpet with Larry Black, recently retired trumpet player with the Atlanta Symphony.

Glenda and her friends Dori Breen & Marion English in the 1986 All-American Liberty Band

While attending Campbell High School in Smyrna, she performed with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, as well as the GMEA All-State Bands, All-State Orchestra, and All-State Jazz Ensemble. Seeing music as a definite vocation in life, Glenda continued her studies at the University of Georgia, where she performed with every music ensemble on campus including the famed Redcoat Band. Majoring in music education, Glenda had numerous opportunities to meet and perform with many great artists the likes of Ed Shaunessy, Jamie Aebersold, Willie Thomas, and Roger Permberton just to name a few. She studied trumpet with Mr. Albert Ligotti and slowly became convinced that she could make it as a performer and as a teacher. "I just wasn't ready to settle down and accept where I was musically. I learned and enormous amount from Mr. Ligotti and all the other UGA faculty, but I knew there was more to learn and I had a great desire to be better."

Upon finishing with a Bachelor's in Music Education, Glenda furthered her studies at the University of Texas at Austin. "I went to Austin to study trumpet with Ray Crisara. His reputation and style of teaching was well known in the trumpet world. I had no idea what an inpact he and the UT musical experience would have on me and my career. While attending UT, Glenda again performed in numerous ensembles: Orchestra, Wind Ensemble Brass Quartet and Quintet, and the UT Jazz Orchestra. "One of the greatest experiences of my life was to play in that band. When I left UGA I really thought I knew how to play lead trumpet….until I met Steve Hawk. After auditioning for JO, I was played in the 3rd, right next to Steve. The first rehearsal came and I was completely blown away. I had never heard a lead sound with such command. It was a very humbling experience. The band was great and had one of the best trumpet sections with which I have ever had the pleasure of playing. One of the nicest guys, Steve was also instrumental in my advancing as a lead player. That kind of experience is priceless." While performing with the UT Jazz Orchestra, Glenda had the pleasure of performing with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Marvin Stamm, Slide Hampton, Christian McBride, Gary Foster, and Bobby Shew. "As a performer, it's an honor to have the opportunity to work with wonderful people who are doing what you aim to do for the rest of your life. Getting any chance to hang with talent like that is a blessing and probably the greatest education of all."

After the Master's and the near Doctorate experience, Glenda decided once again to follow her dreams and moved to Los Angeles. "While I was performing at the IAJE conference in 1997, a gentleman came up to me and ask if I had ever heard of Maiden Voyage. He explained that it was an all-female big band based out of LA. I told him the only all-female band I knew of and had worked with was DIVA, based out of NY. He went on to tell me that the leader of MV, Ann Patterson was looking for a lead trumpeter for a Women's Jazz Festival gig at the Kennedy Center in DC that coming May. I gave him my information and asked him to have her call me. After that gig, I hung out in LA for a few days, flew back to Austin and decided…LA was where I wanted to play. Moving to LA was a big deal for my family. Though very supportive, they were not so thrilled. It just put me that much farther away from Georgia where I grew up."

Arriving in Los Angeles in 1997, Glenda began working with big bands and studio musicians of the highest caliber. "Everyone was incredibly nice to me. I just wanted to be in a place where I could play all styles of music, not just classical, not just jazz. I love all styles and think that it is possible for a player to make it in any genre they choose to play. The best advice came from a gentleman well known in town, Rick Baptist. He said 'show up on time (that's early to you and me), be nice, keep your mouth shut, and take care of biz'. Sometimes that advice is hard to follow but so far things have been great."

Dekajaz cofounders Megan Foley, Scheila Gonzalez, and Glenda

For the past 7 years, Glenda has been 'taking care if biz'. She is currently co-leads several groups: Dekajaz, a jazz tentet, Satin Brass Quartet, and Boomerang (a motown, rock, and soul band). She is working in the studios and recording regularly, but also enjoys many live performances in and around the LA area. "It's great hear yourself on TV or recordings, but playing live is the greatest high of all. That's why I have tried to be a part of several performing groups that work constantly because I enjoy traveling, working with all kinds of players, and building relationships. It's the only way to hone your craft…keep doing it 'til ya die. I think we are blessed because we get to do what we love for a living and we are constantly evolving as musicians but more importantly as people."