Oswaldo Zapata currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Coordinator of the Brass Area at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Dr. Zapata previously taught at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) in Laredo, TX, where he served as Assistant Professor of Music – Trumpet and Director of Mariachi. He is originally from Caldas, Antioquia, Colombia (near Medellín), where he began his musical training by playing the trumpet in the municipal band.
He has performed with the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, Piccolo Spoleto Festival Symphony Orchestra, and Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. He has appeared as a soloist with the UTSA Orchestra, TAMIU Symphonic Band, TAMIU Chamber Orchestra, University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra, and the National University of Colombia Symphony Orchestra. His ensemble experience includes Latin ensembles, brass quintets, brass ensembles, and trumpet ensembles.
Dr. Zapata has studied trumpet with professors David Hickman, James Ackley, Allen Vizzutti, and Fernando Parra. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance with an emphasis in Instrumental Pedagogy from the National University of Colombia, a Postgraduate Certificate in Musical Performance, and a Master’s in Trumpet Performance from the University of South Carolina, as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Trumpet Performance from Arizona State University. During his time at ASU, he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for both the mariachi program and the trumpet studio.