Mica Bethea

Based out of Jacksonville, Florida, Mica is a composer, arranger, and band leader in the jazz vein. He received his graduate and undergraduate degrees, both in music, from the University of North Florida. In 2012, he received the undergraduate arranger award by Downbeat Magazine. He is co-owner of the Cue Note, a billiard room and jazz venue, as well as a boardmember of the Jazz Discovery Series.

Though he writes for many mediums of ensembles, most of his music is set to the big band format and is primarily written for his own amusement. He has released two albums with his own group that show his fervor for this instrumentation: the self-titled Mica Bethea Big Band and Stage n' Studio.

His big band incorporates some of the highest level of performers in the North Florida region, and the occasional special guest. Chris Potter, Rene Marie, Michael Dease, Dennis Marks, Todd DelGiudice, Linda Cole, and Charles Turner are just some of the many elite musicians that he has worked with and have played his music.