Latin American Ensemble from U of A Receives Student Award from Downbeat Magazine

The University of Arkansas Latin American Ensemble, under the direction of Fernando Valencia, has been awarded the prestigious DownBeat magazine’s Award for Best Ensemble in the Latin Jazz category at the graduate level. The 15-piece ensemble impressed the judges with their recordings of “Junio 73” by Willie Colón and “Maria Cervantes” by Noro Morales.

Valencia expressed his pride in the students, highlighting their hard work and dedication to Latin American music. The ensemble, part of the jazz studies program in the Department of Music, offers students the opportunity to not only perform but also compose and arrange music in the genre.

Alan Gosman, chair of the Department of Music, commended the group’s recognition, emphasizing the excellence of the Latin American Ensemble and Valencia’s leadership. To celebrate their achievement, the ensemble will be recording an album next year and performing at the Department of Music’s commencement ceremony.

The DownBeat Student Music Awards are highly regarded in the jazz education community, and winning this award is a significant accomplishment for the Latin American Ensemble. The Department of Music, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, boasts a faculty of 50 scholars and musicians and offers a variety of ensembles for students to participate in.

The Latin American Ensemble’s success is a testament to their talent and dedication to their craft, and their future looks bright as they continue to make waves in the world of Latin jazz music.