UNT alumni won big at the Grammy Awards in February.

Latonia Moore, a College of Music student in the 1990s, won for Best Opera Recording for the Metropolitan Opera production of Fire Shut Up In My Bones. Snarky Puppy, which was founded when some of its members attended UNT, took home its fifth Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for its album Empire Central.

Other nominees included Jeff Coffin ('90), Norah Jones, Maren Morris, Tobe Nwigwe and faculty members Philip Dizack and Rosana Eckert ('95, '99 M.M.). Jack Eaddy Jr. ('19 D.M.A.), director of athletic bands at Western Carolina University, was a finalist for Music Educator of the Year.

Also nominated was Vaughn Faison ('19 M.M.), pictured, a member of the group Kings Return that was up for the Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella category for their song "How Deep Is Your Love?" Faison says performing with the group can almost be transcendental.

"We're really doing something that means something to people," he says.