Jazz alumnus John Sturino (BM ’16, MM ’19) and his band BLOW GLOBE have been awarded a 2024 New Jazz Works Grant from Chamber Music America.

DownBeat Magazine named University of North Texas Duo Brasil as winner of the Graduate College Outstanding Performance category of the 47th Annual Student Music Awards. Duo Brasil is Tomás Johnsson and Dani Toralla.

Luke Young wins 3rd Place at the 2024 National Trumpet Competition - Tom Williams Jazz Division.

DownBeat Magazine named the UNT Jazz Singers as winners of the 47th Annual Student Music Awards in the Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble category along with Katelyn Robinson as Outstanding Scat Soloist on “Find Your Way.” UNT Jazz Singers is directed by Professor of Vocal Jazz, Jennifer Barnes.

Daniel Pinilla (MM ’16, DMA 20) joined the faculty at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance as Assistant Professor of Jazz Guitar starting Fall 2024.

Soprano and Professor Molly Fillmore, Chair of the Division of Vocal Studies, and Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet - Lead Emphasis, Philip Dizack, Division of Jazz Studies, have each been named a recipient of a 2024-2025 University of North Texas Initiative for Advancement of the Arts (IAA) Fellowship. John W. Richmond, Professor and Dean of the College of Music said, “Please join me in offering heartfelt congratulations to them for this important affirmation of their work and to Provost McPherson for his important investments in our research and creative activities!”

MOLLY FILLMORE’S work is a multi-media, interdisciplinary project culminating with a commercially released audio recording and music videos consisting of songs performed in England during the Regency era. Her collaborators Include Steven Harlos, Jaymee Haefner and Jeffrey Snider.

The Fellowship to PHILIP DIZACK will be utilized to support the composition of a large-scale work entitled "Brass Regalia." A multi-suite composition written for jazz quartet & nine-piece brass ensemble telling the story of resilience and healing from childhood trauma. The culmination of the work will include a European tour and performance including a concert at the Wiener Konzerthaus Wiener Konzerthaus as a part of their "Art of Brass" series in June 2025.

The Music Business Association has named UNT College of Music Assistant Professor of Music Business, Jessica Muñiz-Collado, as finalist for its Bizzy Award “Music Business Educator of the Year." MBA says, “The award celebrates a music business educator who inspires students to enter the music business. The winner will lead by example and teach across the breadth and depth of the industry to open students’ awareness to the possibilities available in the music industry today. The winning candidate should expose students to the importance of connection and relationships in this industry while continuing to learn and be a part of the industry themselves.”

Students Serim Kim and Natalie Wagner have been selected for the Women In Jazz Organization Mentors program. Natalie will be studying with saxophonist, Erica Von Kleist while Serim will be working with pianist, Dawn Clement Music. The mentorship is “designed to connect and enrich the community of women and non-binary people in Jazz. The program provides strong role models to up-and-coming jazz musicians and composers in a safe and supportive environment and offers a way for established jazz musicians and composers on the scene to actively participate in and help shape the future of their art form.”

UNT alumna Colleen Clark (DMA ’19, drum set) appeared as guest drummer with the 8G Band on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Graduate jazz piano student Jeongmin Ha has been selected to perform as one of only five members with the 2024 Jazz Education Network (JEN) "Sisters in Jazz" ensemble at 2024 JEN national conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

UNT graduate student Tomás Jonsson released his debut single with trumpet player and vocalist Benny Benack III.

Rob Wilkerson (MM ’00) included on the GRAMMY nominated Dynamic Maximum Tension performed by Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society in the category of Best Large Jazz Ensemble.