The DownBeat Magazine 36th Anniversary Student Music Awards were presented to the Jazz Studies Program (Music) in June’s issue. The UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, under the direction of Dave Loeb, and Nathan Tanouye received the Large Ensemble Graduate College Outstanding Perform award, along with the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Lab Band I, and the Cal State Northridge Jazz “A” Band. Uli Geissendoerfer, a recent UNLV graduate of jazz studies, directed the UNLV Latin Jazz Ensemble. He shared the honor with University of North Texas Laura Otero Columbian Project. John Summers, a jazz studies graduate student, was awarded a Jazz Arrangement Graduate college Large Ensemble Outstanding Performance Award for his arrangement Michael Brecker’s “African Skies.” Since 2010, five DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards have been awarded to UNLV’s jazz program. These awards were established in 1976 and are the most prestigious in jazz education. There were 950 entries from 16 categories, representing distinguished music programs around the world. All audio CD submissions were identified by a code and were evaluated by jazz educators, renowned composers and arrangers. The blind audition process ensures impartiality. From www.unlv.edu
