The Frost Concert Jazz Band directed by Dante Luciani was the DownBeat Graduate College Winner in the prestigious Large Jazz Ensemble category; the Frost Salsa Orchestra directed by Alberto De La Reguera was a repeat DownBeat Graduate College Winner in the Latin Group category. The Frost Funk/Fusion Ensemble directed by Stephen Rucker was the DownBeat Graduate College Winner in the Blues/Pop/Rock Group category and the Frost Studio Jazz Band directed by Stephen Guerra received the DownBeat Graduate College Outstanding Performance award.
Five Frost School of Music students received individual DownBeat Student Music Awards in eight other categories. Timothy Buchholtz (Miami, FL), voice, was the DownBeat Graduate College Winner in the Jazz Arrangement category for his arrangement of “Senor Blues.” Buchholtz also received the DownBeat Graduate College Outstanding Performance award in the Vocal Jazz Soloist category. Troy Roberts (Perth, Australia), tenor saxophone, received the DownBeat Graduate College Outstanding Performance award in the Instrumental Jazz Soloist category. In the Original Song category, Steve Brickman (Andover, MA) received the DownBeat Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance award for his composition “Mystical Substance.” Also in the Original Song category, Luke Moellman (Saratoga Springs, NY) received the DownBeat Graduate College Outstanding Performance award for his composition “Misguided Melancholia.” Bridget Davis (Chagrin Falls, OH) and Luke Moellman’s ensemble “bridget & luke” received the Downbeat Graduate College Outstanding Performance award in the Blues/Pop/Rock category (Gary Lindsay, director). Luke Moellman also received two additional individual awards: the Downbeat Graduate College Winner award for Engineered Live Recording and the Downbeat Graduate College Winner award for Engineered Studio Recording.
The DownBeat Student Music Awards is an esteemed competition for middle school, high school, and college students to showcase their talent and be recognized for their musical skills. Students record their music on a CD and submit it for judging by professional musicians and educators from across the country. Judging criteria is based on musicianship, creativity, improvisation, technique, sound quality and balance, excitement and authority. Awards are given in 15 categories in five different divisions.
