U of A Latin American Ensemble Earns National Recognition

The U of A Latin American Ensemble has earned national and international recognition for its artistic excellence, receiving prestigious honors that highlight the program's growing reputation as one of the leading collegiate Latin music ensembles.

Directed by Professor Fernando Valencia, the ensemble recently received a 2026 DownBeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Performance in the Graduate Latin Jazz category. The recognition marks the ensemble's second DownBeat honor in three years, following its 2024 Student Music Award in the same category. Valencia also earned a Silver Medal from the Global Music Awards for his original composition, "Chobita," adding to the program's recent accomplishments.

"These recognitions are especially meaningful because they reflect the incredible dedication and artistry of our students," Valencia said. "The Latin American Ensemble serves not only as a performance group, but also as a space for cultural exchange, community building and artistic exploration through the rich musical traditions of Latin America and the Afro-Latin diaspora."

"It is thrilling to see the work of Professor Valencia and his students recognized by these exceptional awards," said Dr. Jake Hertzog, jazz area coordinator in the Department of Music. "The Latin American Ensemble is a true example of artistic and pedagogical excellence in the Department of Music and a major asset to our music ecosystem in the region."

For the past 15 years, Valencia has led the ensemble in exploring the diverse musical traditions of Latin America and the Afro-Latin music traditions. Through performances, educational outreach and cross-cultural collaboration, students gain hands-on experience with culturally significant works. This has allowed students to engage with musical traditions that have historically had limited institutional representation in Northwest Arkansas.

These honors place the U of A alongside institutions that are regularly recognized by DownBeat, including the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, the University of North Texas, Berklee College of Music, the University of Michigan and the Boston Conservatory.

An accomplished percussionist, composer and educator, Valencia has performed with ensembles including the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, the Arkansas Philharmonic and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and recently appeared alongside Grammy Award winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma for the world premiere of Teddy Abrams' "Mammoth." His contributions to music education and performance earned him induction into the Arkansas Drummers Hall of Fame in 2024.