UNLV Opera was named a finalist in the National Opera Association Collegiate Opera Scenes Competition, which takes place in Greensboro, N.C., in January. UNLV Opera is a finalist in both the graduate and musical theatre divisions.

Linda Lister (Music) is the 2014 winner of The American Prize in Directing, for Sancta Susanna and Suor Angelica. She was selected from applications reviewed this summer from across the United States. The American Prize is a series of new, non-profit competitions unique in scope and structure, designed to recognize and reward the best performing…

Jennifer Bellor (Music) wrote a composition, "Noir," which won the 2014 Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra National Composition contest. It will be performed in Seattle on Nov. 4, featuring Grace Kelly on alto saxophone.

Linda Lister (Music) was named one of six semi-finalists for The American Prize in Directing. In addition, UNLV Opera's production of Suor Angelica/Sancta Susanna was selected as one of six semi-finalists for The American Prize in Opera Performance (university division). Winners were to be announced in July.

Anthony LaBounty (Music) was honored by election to membership in the American Bandmasters Association (ABA). In its 85-year history, the American Bandmasters Association has elected fewer than 500 total members, and currently has fewer than 300 conductors and composers on its roll. Candidates are rigorously screened via the adjudication of…

Stephen Caplan (Music) is the author of The Breathing Book for Oboe. Published by Mountain Peak Music, it has received endorsements from some of the world's leading oboe players, described as a "must-read for oboists of all levels."

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…

Jazz Studies Program (Music) received three prestigious DownBeat Magazine 36th Annual Student Music Awards in the June issue. UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, directed by Dave Loeb and Nathan Tanouye, received the Large Ensemble Graduate College Outstanding Performance award along with the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Lab Band I and the Cal State…

UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, directed by Dave Loeb and Nathan Tanouye, garnered a second-place award in the College Big Band Division of the prestigious 2013 Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, Calif., in April. The UNLV Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Uli Geissendoerfer, won third place in the Open Combo Division. UNLV saxophonist…

UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, directed by Dave Loeb (Music) and Nathan Tanouye (Music), and the Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Uli Geissendoerfer (Music), have been selected through competitive audition to perform at the 2013 Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival at the Monterey Convention Center in Monterey, Calif., in April. The three-day event…

Thomas Leslie (Music) recently was elected president of the American Bandmasters Association (ABA), the nation's most prestigious band association. Founded in 1929 by Edwin Franco Goldman, the ABA elected John Philip Sousa as its first honorary president. Leslie serves as the 76th president of this historical group. Presidency of the ABA is…

A. J. Merlino (Music) has been accepted to play at the International Percussion Festival in Cordoba, Argentina. One of the biggest festivals of its kind in South America, the event includes a large number of diverse artists and has a rigorous application process. He will be performing new and standard repertoire. Those percussion works are…