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Alumni/Awards

Rising Stars - Past Students

These past Texas State jazz students have lifetime jazz careers ahead of them. Click their picture for their story.

Arthur LatinAr

thur Latin -

Drummer currently with Harry Connick Jr.
Edwin Livingston

Edwin Livingston -

Bassist with Ellis and Jason Marsalis and is the bass player in the movie "Ray."
Fred Sanders

Fred Sanders -

Pianist who toured with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and is currently playing with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
John Mills

John Mills -

Saxophonist/Composer  and Current UT Faculty member
Elias Haslanger

Elias Haslanger -

Tenor saxophonist who has toured with Maynard Ferguson.
Adam Schroeder

Adam Schroeder -

Baritone Saxophonist who  toured and recorded with Ray Charles.  While a student at Texas State, Adam won the Downbeat Magazine Award as the "Outstanding Collegiate Jazz Soloist"
Paul Armstrong

Paul Armstrong -

Trumpet player who toured and recorded with Maynard Ferguson and was formerly with the Army Jazz Ambassadors.
 

DownBeat Award Winners

A number of jazz students from Texas State have won prestigious DownBeat Awards as "Outstanding Soloists":

  • Pat Murray
  • Dr. John Mills
  • Adam Schroeder
  • Elias Haslanger
  • Russ Scanlon
  • Freddie Mendoza
  • Kris Kimura
  • Jay Fort
  • Adam Booker

Two jazz combos have won DownBeat awards as "Outstanding Combos". Members included:

  • Ephraim Owens
  • Freddie Mendoza
  • Elias Haslanger
  • Arthur Latin
  • Arlington Jones
  • Edwin Livingston

In addition, students have won various awards at the Notre Dame, Wichita, and UNT Jazz Festivals.