Dr. Richard A. Schwartz, the director of the Eastern New Mexico University Jazz Ensemble and Miller's saxophone teacher, said, "This is the second time the Eastern New Mexico University Jazz Ensemble has participated in the Oñate Jazz Festival in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Besides our own annual ENMU JazzFest, this is a great opportunity for our students to hear university ensembles from around the region and work with top jazz musicians and educators."

Including the distinction of being named the winner of this accolade, Duncan was awarded a prize of a new Theo Wanne metal jazz alto saxophone mouthpiece worth over $300. The judges included internationally acclaimed jazz artists and clinicians Eric Marienthal (saxophone) and Greg Bissonette (drums).

Dr. Schwartz said, "I am very proud of our Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo students. They have worked diligently the entire academic year performing not only at this festival, but at the fall Roswell Jazz Festival, annual Big Band Dance and 2016 ENMU JazzFest. This award is simply the icing on the cake. It clearly demonstrates that ENMU has talented students that can do anything."

Duncan was also recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship through the ENMU Friends of Music by performing Eugene Bozza's "Improvisation et Caprice" on the ENMU Department of Music's competitive Friends of Music Scholarship Night.

For more information, contact Dr. Schwartz at [email protected].