UNLV Jazz Studies (Music) and its students were honored in the 41st annual DownBeat Student Music Awards, which each year recognizes the top collegiate jazz musicians in the country. The UNLV Honors Quartet won in the Graduate College Small Ensemble Category and pianist Patrick Hogan was the co-winner in the Graduate College Soloist category. The Estella Yun Electric Band received an Outstanding Performance Award in the Graduate College Blues/Pop/Rock Small Group category and Jorge Machain garnered an Outstanding Performance Undergraduate College for his large ensemble arrangement, “Fascinating Rhythm." Michael Spicer received two Graduate College Outstanding Performances. One was for “Patchwork," in the Small Ensemble category, while the other was for “Love For Sale” in the Large Ensemble Arrangement category. These students will be recognized in DownBeat magazine’s June edition. The DownBeat Student Music Awards, founded in 1976, are considered among the most prestigious awards in jazz education. The UNLV jazz studies program has received 17 DownBeat Student Music Awards since 2010. Winners are selected from more than 1,000 entries.
