UNLV Latin Jazz Ensemble and UNLV Jazz Ensemble I (both Music) won awards at the 2014 Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival in California in March. The Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Uli Geissendoerfer, won second place in the Open Combo Division and Jazz Ensemble I, directed by Dave Loeb , garnered a third place award in the College Big Band Division. UNLV vibraphonist Daniel Alameda won outstanding soloist in the Open Combo Division. The UNLV Joe Williams Every Day Foundation Jazz Scholarship Sextet also gave a stellar performance as a special invited guest group at this event, considered one of the most respected festivals in jazz education. The festival invites the finest student jazz musicians from across the country and around the world, selected through recorded competitive auditions judged by leading jazz educators, to participate in the festival each spring. This year the festival featured more than 1,200 music students. There were 56 groups representing 14 states with 19 special guest performing groups.
