The June 2025 issue of DownBeat Magazine is now online and Southwestern Community College (SWCC) School for Music Vocations’ student Natalie Holsey (photo at right), as well as the SWCC vocal group First Take (photo above), were announced as 2025 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award winners.
Holsey of Altoona, Pennsylvania, is this year’s Vocal Jazz Soloist Community College winner and First Take was named Community College Outstanding Performance winner. First Take members honored included Kiersten Conway of Solon; Holsey; Jaden Tabor of Denton, Texas; Jasione Veil of Carpentersville, Illinois; Andrew Dunahoo of Cumming; Josh Evert of Reinholds, Pennsylvania; and Dan Shimon of Rockford, Illinois. First Take is directed by Tobi Crawford, SWCC School for Music Vocations instructor.
DownBeat Magazine is sent to subscribers around the world. DownBeat focuses on jazz and related fields and was established in 1934 in Chicago.
For more information about SWCC’s professional music program, please visit the college website at www.swcciowa.edu.
Pictured above (L to R): The members of SWCC’s First Take vocal ensemble included Kiersten Conway of Solon; Natalie Holsey of Altoona, Pennsylvania; Jaden Tabor of Denton, Texas; Jasione Veil of Carpentersville, Illinois; Andrew Dunahoo of Cumming; Josh Evert of Reinholds, Pennsylvania; and Dan Shimon of Rockford, Illinois.
Pictured at right: Natalie Holsey of Altoona, Pennsylvania.