The University of Evansville Wind Ensemble received a superior rating (I) and the gold medal at the International Music Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii on Friday on April 25, 2003. The ensemble competed in the top category of AAA - groups from colleges and universities. At the awards ceremony the chief adjudicator, Dr. Russell G. Estes, stated that only 8% of the awards given in each category are the gold medal. In a recent letter to Dr. Zifer, director of bands at UE, Dr. Estes stated: "You sir, have a tremendous wind ensemble. The students are extremely fortunate to be in the Wind Ensemble under your direction. I so enjoyed having the opportunity to attend the performance and talk briefly with the students. I too am from Indiana. The literature chosen for the performance is some of the most difficult for ensemble and conductor. The changes in time signatures were played without a flaw, key changes without disrupting intonation, and the attention to your conductor was captivating. In my judgment, you and the ensemble are a tremendous asset to any music department and university." The panel of three judges ranked the wind ensemble with a top rating in each of the 4 areas: quality of sound, technique, musicality and other factors.

While in Honolulu, the UE Wind Ensemble performed center stage at the Ala Moana Center, a premier international and local shopping destination with over 230 specialty shops.