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 Julian Tanaka won outstanding soloist in the College Big Band Division and Max Acree, trombone, won the same award in the Open Combo Division. The UNLV Contemporary Jazz Ensemble and the UNLV Joe Williams Every Day Foundation Jazz Scholarship Sextet also gave stellar performances as special invited guest groups at this event, considered one of the most respected festivals in jazz education. The Monterey Jazz Festival invites the finest student jazz musicians from across the country and around the world, selected through recorded competitive auditions judged by leading jazz educators, to participate in the festival each spring. This year the festival featured more than 1,200 music students, comprising 56 groups representing 14 states with 19 special guest performing groups.