Founded in 1976 by the music industry’s pre-eminent jazz publication, they are considered among the most prestigious awards in jazz education. The recipients were officially announced May 5, 2022 in the magazine’s annual jazz education issue.
“The excellence and community of the Frost School is on full display with this year’s DownBeat Student Music Awards,” states John Daversa, Chair of Studio Music and Jazz at the Frost School. “We are so proud of our students and look forward to witnessing their lives and careers unfold with great interest.”
This year’s honorees represent a broad spectrum in jazz, with nine awards in various categories of jazz vocal performance. “We’re very proud of all of the Frost students receiving DownBeat awards this year,” states Kate Reid, Director of the Jazz Vocal Performance Program and Associate Professor of Jazz Voice. “These awards reflect hard work and dedication to the creative process and this year is extra special with so many Jazz Vocal students recognized. Many thanks to DownBeat for this acknowledgment and congratulations to all the students and music programs receiving awards this year!”
“”My arrangement for I Love You was first remotely recorded by my classmates as a theory final project, and later performed live with Frost Jazz Vocal One,” says Janelle Finton who received the award for Best Arrangement in the Undergraduate College category. “It is a sonic documentation of the love for music and each other that has sustained our school community over the past two years of uncertainty.”
“Receiving a DownBeat Student Music Award is an honor,” says Emma Hedrick, Best Vocal Jazz Soloist in the Undergraduate Outstanding Performance category. “At Frost, the guidance and perspectives from the faculty, as well as being challenged and inspired by my peers contributed to my immense musical growth during my Undergraduate Degree. I am very grateful that my versatile education at Frost provided me with this foundation.”
Following is a complete list of awardees:
Undergraduate College Winners:
- June Cavlan, Vocal Jazz Soloist/Kate Reid, faculty mentor
- The Frost Vocal Quintet, Small Vocal Jazz Group/Kate Reid, director
- Janelle Finton, “I Love You” Jazz Arrangement/Kate Reid, faculty mentor
Graduate College Winners:
- Mikailo Kasha, Jazz Soloist (Upright Bass)/Chuck Bergeron, faculty mentor
- Frost Extensions, Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble/Kate Reid, director
Outstanding Soloist: Daniel Fiamengo on “Round Midnight” - Gary (Kaiji) Wang, “Pearls” Jazz Arrangement, Studio Orchestra/Stephen Guerra, faculty mentor
Undergraduate Outstanding Performances:
- Emma Hedrick, Vocal Jazz Soloist/Kate Reid, faculty mentor
- Will Ryan III, Vocal Jazz Soloist/Kate Reid, faculty mentor
- Frost Jazz Vocal lI, Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble/Kate Reid, director
Outstanding Soloist: Jameson Falconer on “The Kicker” - Joey Curreri (Trumpet) Joey Curreri Quintet for Outstanding Soloist, Small Jazz Combo/Brian Lynch, faculty mentor
- The American Music Ensemble, Blues/Pop/Rock Group/Daniel Strange, director
Graduate Outstanding Performances:
- Bailey Hinkley Grogan, Vocal Jazz Soloist/Kate Reid, faculty mentor
- Katie Oberholtzer, Vocal Jazz Soloist/Kate Reid, faculty mentor
- Frost Jazz Vocal l, Small Vocal jazz Group/Kate Reid, director
- Mikailo Kasha Trio, Small Jazz Trio/Chuck Bergeron, faculty mentor
- Jason Arkins(Alto Saxophone), Outstanding Soloist, Small Jazz Combo
- The Frost Septet/Chuck Bergeron, director
- Tim Watson (Guitar) Outstanding Soloist, Small Jazz Trio, The Frost Septet/ Chuck Bergeron, faculty mentor
- Casey Dickey, “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” Graduate College Outstanding Jazz Arrangement, Studio Orchestra/Stephen Guerra, faculty mentor
- Connor Rohrer, “Too Soon To Tell”
Graduate College Outstanding Composition
Original Composition, Small Ensemble/Chuck Bergeron, faculty mentor
