DENTON (UNT), Texas Ύ University of North Texas students and ensembles earned 15 DownBeat Student Music Awards this year more than any other institution. The prestigious awards were announced in the June issue of the national jazz magazine.
The DownBeat Student Music Awards are the most significant awards that students in our field can receive, said John Murphy, chair of the Division of Jazz Studies. Our students regularly appear among the winners. What's especially significant about this year's awards are the large number of students recognized and the fact that the awards cover the full range of our program areas, including large and small ensembles, instrumental and vocal performance, and composition and arranging. This demonstrates the comprehensive strength of our program; the dedication of our faculty, who mentor these students; and the many hours of hard work that our students devote to their artistry.
UNT winners are listed below.
· Large Jazz Ensemble: Graduate College Winner Two O'Clock Lab Band
Members of the Two OClock Lab Band are:
o Justin Pierce on saxophone
o Alex Fraile on saxophone
o Nick Salvucci on saxophone
o J.R. Rocha on saxophone
o Spencer Liszt on saxophone
o Tyler Mire on trumpet
o Jake Boldman on trumpet
o Kevin Swaim on trumpet
o Ally Hany on trumpet
o Li Xiaochuan on trumpet
o Carl Lundgren on trombone
o Austin Short on trombone
o Julie Gray on trombone
o John Gauer on trombone
o Craig Flentge on trombone
o Sean Giddings on piano
o Jacob Wise on guitar
o Daniel Parr on bass
o Greg Sadler on drums
o Ben Christenson on percussion
o Kaela Bratcher on vocals
o Faculty mentor: Jay Saunders
· Jazz Group: Graduate College Winner Zebras
Members are:
o Michelle Alonso on vocals;
o Jacqueline Sotelo on vocals;
o Adam Hutcheson on alto saxophone and flute;
o Alejandro Fraile on alto saxophone, soprano saxophone and flute;
o Mark De Hertogh on tenor Saxophone, soprano saxophone and flute;
o Luke Brimhall on trombone;
o Li Xiaochuan on trumpet and flugelhorn;
o Roberto Verastegui on piano;
o Ian Tucker on acoustic and electric bass;
o Jason Valdez on electric guitar;
o Colin Hinton on drums;
o Sergio Pamies, director and percussion
o Faculty mentors: Stefan Karlsson/Richard DeRosa
· Latin Group: Graduate College Winner Sergio Pamies Latin Project
Members are:
o Michelle Alonso on vocals;
o Jacqueline Sotelo on vocals;
o Pete Clagett on trumpet and Flugelhorn (soloist);
o Tyler Mire on trumpet (lead trumpet);
o Juan Chaves on trumpet;
o Luke Brimhall on trombone;
o Kevin Hicks on trombone;
o Adam Hutcheson on alto saxophone;
o Alejandro Fraile on alto saxophone;
o Mark De Hertogh on tenor saxophone;
o Abdeel "Tito" Charneco on tenor saxophone;
o Todd Winton on baritone saxophone;
o Dustin Kiselbach on acoustic and electric bass;
o Duran Ritz on drums;
o Ben Christensen on percussion;
o Anthony Corsaro on percussion;
o Faculty mentor: Stefan Karlsson
· Jazz Soloist: Undergraduate College Winner Brian Clancy, tenor saxophone
o Faculty mentor: Bradford Leali
· Vocal Jazz Soloist: Undergraduate College Winner Trenton Hull
o Faculty mentor: Rosana Eckert
· Vocal Jazz Soloist: Graduate College Winner Sarah Kervin
o Faculty mentor: Rosana Eckert
· Original Composition Orchestrated Work: Graduate College Winners Michelle Alonso/Sergio Pamies, "Desabafo"
o Faculty mentor: Stefan Karlsson
· Jazz Arrangement: Graduate College Winner Tyler Mire, "Confirmation"
o Faculty mentor: Richard DeRosa
· Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble: Graduate College Outstanding Performance
UNT Jazz Singers I
Members are:
o Kaela Bratcher,
o Mikaela Kahn,
o Katrina Cain,
o Sarah Kervin,
o Mihwa Kim,
o Lisa Markley,
o Ashleigh Smith,
o Trenton Hull,
o Aaron Schumacher,
o Seth Weaver,
o Daewon Lee,
o Terrence Brown,
o Paul Shinn,
o Robert Hokamp,
o Kevin Bach,
o Dan Pennell
o Faculty mentor: Jennifer Barnes
· Vocal Jazz Group: Graduate College Outstanding Performance CircleSong
Members are:
o Kaela Bratcher,
o Kathryn Christie,
o Caity Brady,
o Tabitha Myles,
o Sarah Kervin,
o Ashleigh Smith
o Faculty mentor: Stefan Karlsson
· Vocal Jazz Group: Graduate College Outstanding Performance Zebras
Members are:
o Michelle Alonso on vocals;
o Jacqueline Sotelo on vocals;
o Adam Hutcheson on alto saxophone and flute;
o Alejandro Fraile on alto saxophone,soprano saxophone and flute;
o Mark De Hertogh on tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone and flute;
o Luke Brimhall on trombone;
o Li Xiaochuan on trumpet and flugelhorn;
o Roberto Verastegui on piano;
o Ian Tucker on acoustic and electric bass;
o Jason Valdez on electric guitar;
o Colin Hinton on drums;
o Sergio Pamies, director, percussion;
o Faculty mentor: Stefan Karlsson
· Vocal Jazz Soloist: Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance
Kaela Bratcher
o Faculty mentor: Rosana Eckert
· Vocal Jazz Soloist: Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance
Ashleigh Smith
o Faculty mentor: Jennifer Barnes
· Vocal Jazz Soloist: Graduate College Outstanding Performance Kathryn Christie
o Faculty mentor: Rosana Eckert
· Original Composition Lead Sheet: Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance Drew Zaremba, "A Happy Song"
About the DownBeat Student Music Awards
The DownBeat Student Music Awards, founded in 1976, are considered the most prestigious awards in jazz education. Hundreds of musicians, music educators and music industry professionals received their first international recognition as DownBeat Student Music Award winners. At least six winners have gone on to appear on the cover of DownBeat as professional artists. Scores have been featured in the magazine and have won either Critics or Readers Poll honors. Even before becoming professionals, students have used this recognition to garner more than $10 million in scholarship opportunities.
About the UNT College of Music
The UNT College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the country. About 1,600 music students attend UNT each year, participating in more than 40 widely varied ensembles and pursuing specialized studies in performance, composition, music education or music scholarship. UNT faculty members and students have made appearances on the worlds finest stages and have produced numerous recordings, many receiving Grammy awards and nominations. Distinguished UNT alumni can be found around the globe, in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities and schools.