KU Jazz students rack up awards at DownBeat Student Music Awards

Please join us in congratulating KU School of Music’s Jazz Studies Program for their recent success at the 2023 DownBeat Student Music Awards (SMA). The awards were announced this month, where KU Jazz Ensemble I was named a Large Ensemble co-winner in the Graduate College division. The Spencer Reeve Trio also received the Outstanding Performance award in the Jazz Combo Undergraduate division.

KU Jazz Ensemble I has made a significant impact on the jazz music scene, as this marks the third consecutive year they have received an SMA award. The ensemble has also received six awards out of the last nine years. The group is composed of talented musicians, and their dedication to excellence in performance is evident in every piece they play.

"We are thrilled to see KU Jazz Ensemble I being recognized again for their outstanding musicianship and hard work,” said Dan Gailey, the ensemble’s leader and Director of Jazz Studies at KU. “Their consistent success in the DownBeat Student Music Awards is a testament to their dedication and passion, and to the great work and support of our jazz and studio faculty."

The Spencer Reeve Trio, led by Associate Director of Jazz Studies Matt Otto, has also received recognition for their outstanding performance in the Jazz Combo category. The trio is made up of undergraduate students who have demonstrated their ability to excel as jazz performers. The KU School of Music is proud of these exceptional students, and we look forward to their continued success.

About DownBeat

The DownBeat Student Music Awards are considered the most prestigious awards in jazz education. Since its founding in 1976, hundreds of musicians, music educators and music industry professionals received their first international recognition as DownBeat Student Music Award winners. Under Gailey’s leadership, the KU Jazz Studies Program has received 31 DownBeat Student Music Awards since 1992. 

DownBeat will publish the awards in its June issue. As one of the world’s leading jazz and contemporary music publications, DownBeat announces its Student Music Awards annually.Students and educators nominate themselves in an open call for recorded performances and applications, and winners are selected from more than 1,000 entries.