UNLV Jazz Sweeps DownBeat Awards

BY CHIC COMPASS STAFF

The UNLV Division of Jazz & Commercial Music is proud to announce the recipients of nine prestigious DownBeat Student Music Awards. These awards will be publicized in DownBeat Magazine’s June issue.

Established in 1976, the DownBeat Student Music Awards are considered the most prestigious awards in jazz education. Hundreds of musicians, music educators, and music industry professionals received their first international recognition as a DownBeat Student Music Award winner. The UNLV Jazz & Commercial Music program has garnered 33 DownBeat Student Music Awards since 2010.

“The nine DownBeat Student Music Awards earned by UNLV in 2021 marks a record for our program. We continue to be proud of the worldwide acknowledgment our students receive,” said Dave Loeb, director of the UNLV Division of Jazz & Commercial Music.

Congratulations to the following award recipients:

• UNLV Jazz Ensemble 1, directed by professors Dave Loeb and Nathan Tanouye, is a co-winner in the Graduate College Large Jazz Ensemble category.
• The Vegas ‘22 combo, mentored by faculty member Jo Belle Yonely, won the Graduate College Latin Group category.
• The Vinnie Falcone Organ Quartet, mentored by Professor Adam Schroeder, won the Graduate College Asynchronous Small Jazz Ensemble category.
• Brian Lawrence (MM ‘22) won the Graduate College Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist category. He is a saxophone student of professor Adam Schroeder.
• The UNLV Jazz Vocal Ensemble, directed by faculty member Kimberly Snavely, received a Graduate College Asynchronous Small Vocal Jazz Group Outstanding Performance award.
• Gary Fowler (MM ‘22) was recognized as an Outstanding Vocal Soloist in the Graduate College category. He is a vocal student of faculty member Jo Belle Yonely.
• Molly Redfield (DMA ‘22) received a Graduate College Outstanding Vocal Arrangement award for her arrangement of “Moonglow.” Molly is a composition student of faculty member Carlos Mata-Alvarez.
• The UNLV Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, directed by faculty member Julian Tanaka, received an Asynchronous Blues/Pop/Rock Group Graduate College Outstanding Performance award.
• The UNLV Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by faculty member Uli Geissendoerfer, received a Graduate College Latin Group Outstanding Performance award.