Wynton plays with winners of Essentially Ellington 2007
Last night, three high school jazz bands took top honors in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 12th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival.
Each band was chosen by a panel of judges composed of distinguished jazz musicians and historians – chosen by a panel of judges composed of distinguished jazz musicians and historians: Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Artistic Director; Music Director, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, David Baker; composer, conductor, and Ellington authority David Berger; and author, composer, and conductor Gunther Sshuller – from among the 15 finalist bands from the U.S. and Canada that came to the Competition & Festival on May 4, 5, & 6, 2007.
Essentially Ellington culminated in yesterday night concert at Avery Fisher Hall (download high-res photos), where the top placing bands performed with Wynton as a soloist followed by an all Ellington concert performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra – all of whom serve as mentors for each of the finalist bands during this weekend festival.
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) Ellington compositions performed yesterday night will be distributed by Jazz at Lincoln Center for the 2007-2008 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Program. At the awards ceremony, Wynton, presented prizes to each of the 15 finalist bands.
Scott Brown, director of the Roosevelt High School Jazz Band, accepted the 1st place trophy and award of $1,000. John Mosley, director of the Agoura High School Studio Jazz Band accepted the 2nd place trophy and award of $750. Stephen Massey, director of the Foxboro High School Jazz Band, accepted the 3rd place trophy and award of $500. King Philip Regional High School Jazz Band was named honorable mention band and was awarded $350. The remaining 10 bands were awarded certificates of merit and awards of $250 each. All monetary awards go toward improving schools’ jazz programs. Awards for outstanding soloists and sections were also presented (see listing below).
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 12th Annual Essentially Ellington
High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival 2007 AWARDS
FIRST PLACE:
Roosevelt High School
SECOND PLACE:
Agoura High School Studio Jazz Band
THIRD PLACE:
Foxboro High School
HONORABLE MENTION BAND
King Philip Regional High School
OUTSTANDING SOLOISTS:
On Clarinet, Tenor and Flute
Agoura High School Studio Jazz – Daniel Jenklow
On Clarinet
Edmonds-Woodway High School – Hannah Jones
Foxboro High School – Solveig Olsen
Garfield High School – Carl Majeau
River East Collegiate – Samantha Chrol
On Alto Saxophone
Carroll Senior High School – Devin Eddleman
Garfield High School – John Cheadle
Grandview High School – Mario Bennett
Greenwich High School – Ken Kaneko
Roosevelt High School – Logan Strosahl
On Tenor Saxophone
Agoura High School Jazz A – Christian Choh
Carroll Senior High School – Brian Clancy
Garfield High School – Joel Gombiner
Garfield High School – Devin Mooers
On Baritone Saxophone
Carroll Senior High School – Chris
King Philip Regional High School – Matt Kowalski
Williamsville East High School – Dominico Missana
On Trumpet
King Philip Regional High School – J.D. Chaisson
Williamsville East High School – Griffith Kazmierczak
On Trombone
King Philip Regional High School – Chris Palmer
On Valve Trombone
Honeoye Falls-Lima High School – Carter Middleton
On Tuba
Honeoye Falls-Lima High School – Willie Middleton
On Piano
Agoura High School Studio Jazz – Jake Higgins
Edmonds-Woodway High School – Devon Yesberger
Foxboro High School – Molly Kackloudis
Garfield High School – Benjamin Hamaji
Rio Americano High School – Dinos San Pedro
Rio Americano High School – John Rothfels
Roosevelt High School – Scotty Bemis
On Bass
Agoura High School Studio Jazz – Eric Lamm
Foxboro High School – Daniel Kasang
River East Collegiate – Graham Isaak
Williamsville East High School – Danny Ziemann
On Banjo
Roosevelt High School – Reed Ferris
OUTSTANDING SECTIONS
Reeds
Carroll Senior High School
Roosevelt High School
Brass
King Philip Regional High School
Trombones
Foxboro High School
Mead High School
Roosevelt High School
Trumpets
Roosevelt High School
Rhythm Section
Agoura High School Studio Jazz
Foxboro High School
Roosevelt High School
In addition, Jazz at Lincoln Center recognized the winner in the sixth Essentially Ellington Essay Contest. The contest invited students from all participating high schools to submit an essay describing a personal experience with Jazz. Jazz at Lincoln Center received 71 essays from which esteemed historian, author, editor, archivist, and Director of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University Dan Morgenstern chose the winners.
As the 1st place winner for the winning essay entitled “Taking the ‘A’ Train,” by Alex Dugdale, (Roosevelt High School, Seattle, WA) was invited to name a seat in Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and read his essay at the opening of the festival on Friday, May 4, 2007.