Every year, DownBeat Magazine selects the top students and educators in the country for their annual Student Music Awards in their June issue. With the awards now in their 41st year, they wrote that “Motivated students are digesting more information and playing at higher levels than ever before, thanks in large part to the dedicated educators who set them up for success and the schools that provide them with a proper learning environment. And, as previous editions of the Student Music Awards have proven time and again, these students are going on to do great things.”
This year features many students who are from Monterey Jazz Festival’s local and national programs, so we are taking some time to draw some well-deserved attention to these outstanding musicians.
JAZZ SOLOIST AWARDS
High School Winner
Zack Shubert, piano / Carlmont High School, Belmont, CA
(2018 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Member & Next Generation Jazz Festival)
High School Outstanding Performances
Zaq Davis, trumpet / Saint Ann’s School, Brooklyn, NY
(Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Alumnus)
Performing Arts High School Winner
Gabe Rupe, bass / Colorado Conservatory of the Arts, Denver, CO
(Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Alumnus)
Undergraduate College Winner
Luca Mendoza, piano / University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, Los Angeles, CA
(Next Generation Jazz Orchestra & Next Generation Jazz Festival Alumnus)
Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance
Eric Nakanishi / alto saxophone, Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
(Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Alumnus & Next Generation Jazz Festival)
Graduate College Winner
Patrick Hogan, piano / University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Monterey County High School All-Star Band & Next Generation Jazz Festival Alumnus)
LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Honors Ensemble Outstanding Performance
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Big Band / SFJAZZ, Paul Contos, director, San Francisco, CA
(MJF Education Director)
VOCAL JAZZ SOLOIST
Undergraduate College Winner
Allison Wheeler, vocals / University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
(Monterey County Honor Vocal Ensemble Alumna)
ORIGINAL COMPOSITION – SMALL ENSEMBLE
High School Winner
Kate Williams, “Here’s The Thing” / Vanden High School, Fairfield, CA
(2017-18 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Member & Next Generation Jazz Festival)
Performing Arts High School Outstanding Composition
Gabe Rupe, “Dune” / Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts, Denver, CO
(Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Alumnus)
High School Outstanding Composition
Erik Nelson, “This Is Not A Song” / Albany High School, Albany, CA
(2018 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Member)
Zack Shubert, “The Way Of Life” / Carlmont High School, Belmont, CA
(2018 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Member)
Performing Arts High School Winner
Will Brandt, “Abditory” / Colburn Community School of Performing Arts, Los Angeles, CA
(2018 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Member & Next Generation Jazz Festival)
Undergraduate College Outstanding Composition
Matt Wong, “Emptyful” / Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY
(Two-time Gerald Wilson Award Winner & Next Generation Jazz Festival)
JAZZ ARRANGEMENT
High School Winner
Kate Williams, “Eclipse” / Vanden High School, Fairfield, CA
(2017-8 and Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Member & Next Generation Jazz Festival)