About Us
LVA is a public, magnet school that provides students with a twofold emphasis on academics and the arts.
LVA has received twelve GRAMMY Signature School Awards, an honor unparalleled by any other high school in the nation
LVA was named a Top School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America in 2024
LVA was named a 2023-28 Exemplary Arts School by the Arts School Network, the nation's largest professional membership organization of specialized arts schools
LVA received the Grammy Signature Gold status for outstanding accomplishments in the Fine Arts
U.S. News and World Report recognizes LVA as one of America's top high schools, awarding the school a Silver rating
LVA World Jazz Studies Awards
2025 DownBeat Awards for Large Jazz Ensemble and Outstanding Small Jazz Combo Performance (26-time DownBeat Award winner)
2023 Nevada High School Musical Theater Jimmy Award for Outstaning Student Orchestra for the Jazz 3 performance in Anything Goes
2023 Jazz Band of America participant at Music for All National Festival presented by Yamaha
2021, 2014 & 2009 performers at Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference
2020, 2016 & 2009 invited to perform at Monterey Jazz Festival
2020 Finalist at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival (13-time finalist)
2020 YoungArts Merit winner (4 YoungArts winners since 2018)
2020 & 2019 NAfME All-National Honor Ensemble participants
2018 Berklee Summer Jazz Workshop full scholarship to LVA student
2017 Vail Jazz Workshop full scholarship to LVA student
2015 GRAMMY Camp Jazz Session participant
'Best in State' at the Reno Jazz Festival every year in attendance
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival - Best in Class for Big Band and Combo
Invitations to perform at Brandon Jazz Festival; Jazz Education Network Conference; and International Association of Jazz Educators Conference
Patrick Bowen has been the Director of World Jazz Studies at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts since 2001 and Director of Percussion since 1993. Under his leadership, LVA’s jazz bands have performed at prestigious events including the Midwest Clinic, Monterey Jazz Festival, Reno Jazz Festival, Brandon Jazz Festival, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, and the Jazz Education Network Conference. The school has received 12 Grammy Awards—an achievement unmatched by any other high school in the nation—and has earned 21 DownBeat Awards from DownBeat Magazine.
Bowen is the Principal Percussionist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic and has performed with Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks, Harry Connick Jr., Seth MacFarlane, Usher, Elton John, Clint Black, Sheila E., Wynonna Judd, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Don Henley, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, and many others. A sought-after clinician and adjudicator, he has worked with jazz festivals across the U.S. and Canada, including the Con Brio Music Festival (Whistler, Canada), Hank’s Jazz Festival (El Paso, TX), Reno Jazz Festival (Reno, NV), and the Utah All-State Music Festival.
He holds a B.M. in Music Performance (Cum Laude) from the Hartt School of Music, an M.M. in Music Performance from the University of Montana, and a Teaching Certificate from UNLV. His jazz mentors include Jackie McLean, Nat Reeves, Jaki Byard, and Alexander Lepak. Bowen is endorsed by Crescent Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion, Regal Tip by Calato, and Toca Percussion.
Julian Tanaka is a clarinet/saxophone player, composer, and educator based in Las Vegas. He teaches at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he directs the Contemporary Jazz Ensemble and teaches jazz composition. A graduate of UNLV and the Eastman School of Music, Julian has performed with Postmodern Jukebox, BoyzIIMen, NAS, and numerous Strip productions. He’s composed and arranged for a wide range of ensembles, from big bands to pops orchestras. Julian’s mentors include Bill Dobbins, Charles Pillow, Joe Lano, and Walt Blanton.
Sue Mirman, our Jazz Department Instructional Assistant, is a Chicago native and retired optometrist. Inspired by her parents, who developed homes for individuals with disabilities, Sue has made volunteerism a lifelong priority. While pursuing her education, practicing optometry, and raising her family, she remained actively involved in her community, volunteering at her children’s schools and with organizations such as Acts of Kindness and the I Have a Dream Foundation.
Sue serves on the advisory boards of Friends of LVA and Teach For America and previously held an executive board position with Win Win Entertainment. Her involvement with the LVA Jazz Department began as a volunteer in 2011, and she officially joined the team in 2015.
Dr. Mirman holds a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) and a B.S. in Vision Science from the Illinois College of Optometry, as well as a B.S. in Education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.