Joseph Klein, Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair of the Division of Composition Studies, said, "Since graduating from UNT in 2014, Daniel Sabzghabaei has had an impressive record of commissions and performances. His inclusion as one of four emerging artists in this year's Eurasia Festival is just the most recent in a series of significant national and international festivals that have featured Daniel's work. He is rapidly establishing himself as a distinctive voice among young composers."

https://www.eurasiafestival.org/

UNT College of Music jazz trombone professor, Nick Finzer, has been listed as '19 Jazz Artists to Watch in 2019'.
https://www.jazziz.com/the-shape-of-jazz-to-come-artists-to-watch-in-2019/

DENTON (UNT), Texas - University of North Texas College of Music Professor of Jazz Saxophone, Brad Leali, will conduct his sixth annual “Gospel Meets Jazz” concert celebrating Black History Month and the contributions of African American culture.

“The blues is an integral part of jazz. At an early age my teachers would constantly quote: ‘No blues, No jazz,’” said Leali. “Harmonies that are essential in blues and gospel are interwoven into the foundation of jazz. These chordal structures in tandem with an artist’s creativity have often been the impetus for emotional and soulful performances that are certainly reminiscent of gospel and spiritual music.”

Leali says that jazz evolved from taking the characteristics of gospel outside of the church. Combining the influence of gospel music, classical music, African music and others led to jazz’s expressive and challenging art form and a voice of acceptance, goodness, realism, truth and inclusion.

This year’s performers will include UNT faculty/students, members of the Prairie View A&M University Concert choir under the direction of Dr. Jan Taylor, the Morse St. Baptist Church Gospel choir with Bobby Hicks and UNT graduate jazz studies alumnus, Tito Charneco.

The concert is free to the public and will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 (Sunday), at the Paul Voertman Concert Hall, 415 S. Ave. C in Denton.

AWARD: UNT President Neal Smatresk named Joel Wiley (l) (MM ’14) who serves the College of Music as Director of Admissions as UNT's 2019 Steve Miller Outstanding Employee Award. Wiley will be honored on April 2. UNT College of Music Dean, John W. Richmond (r) congratulates Joel.

On Tuesday evening #UNTCoM senior euphonium student, Brandon M. Hawkins, won the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Tuba-Euphonium Workshop Solo Euphonium Competition.

He will be featured soloist, performing Philip Sparke’s Pantomime, with the U.S. Army Band in the gala concert of the 2019 Tuba-Euphonium Workshop, to be held at Brucker Hall, Joint Base Myer, February 2 in Arlington, VA.

Live stream will be available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgfIH7ac6jM&feature=youtu.be Explore what we have to offer at http://music.unt.edu

Alumni Spotlight: "School Band and Orchestra" magazine has selected UNT College of Music alumni Brandon Nelson (BME '11) Oak Harbor High School (WA) Band Teacher to be featured in their annual "50 Directors who Make a Difference".

Alumni Spotlight: Jay Sutey (BM'13) - bassoon and Ally (Hany) Albrecht (BM'14) - trumpet now serving in the US Air Force Band of the West visit UNT College of Music booth during Midwest Clinic in Chicago.