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While they didn’t get to go to New York this year as they originally planned, the Carroll Jazz Orchestra still got to experience Essentially Ellington online. Originally qualifying for the competition in February, the Carroll Jazz Orchestra was expected to travel to New York in May to perform at the 25th annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival. Eighteen high school jazz programs qualified for the competition alongside Carroll.
“It is easily the most high-profile jazz competition at the high school level,” Carroll Director of Jazz Bands David Lown says. “We sometimes refer to it as the Super Bowl of jazz competitions.”
The orchestra was originally scheduled to participate in workshops and concerts at Lincoln Center before competing for top honors against the rest of the nominated bands in May.
“This is a life-changing event for these kids,” David expresses. “It’s clear that they were very, very disappointed, but they’re also very resilient. They understand why we’re in this situation.”
Yet despite the changes and the unpredictable circumstances surrounding social distancing, the Lincoln Center was still committed to hosting the 25th annual Essentially Ellington festival in some way. While the organization originally contemplated holding live Zoom performances with all of the bands together, they ended up deciding to transfer most of its events to live stream sessions from June 8-12. Masterclasses, Q&As and solo performances were all streamed on the Lincoln Center’s website, and the kids got to experience one-on-one lessons with professional musicians in their instrument online.
But the most anticipated day came on Friday, June 12, when the bands got to compete against one another. Since live band performances were eliminated from the lineup, the festival instead opted to use each band’s audition tapes they submitted earlier in the year.
“It was a really positive, uplifting day, and they worked really hard to make that happen,” David says. “It’s really amazing what they’ve done given the circumstances, still having the jam sessions in a virtual setting.”
While the festival didn’t rank bands with first, second or third place like they were originally going to, they still paid mention through outstanding soloist and sectional awards in each performance. The Carroll Jazz Orchestra won honorable mentions for the rhythm section and clarinetist Victor He, while alto saxophonist Taylor Thomas, baritone saxophonist Diego Pena, trumpeter Chase Adams and the trombones all won outstanding awards.
While this year looked a lot different from previous festivals, David says everyone was united in their love of music at the first virtual Essentially Ellington festival.
“That sense of community was there regardless of the circumstances,” David says. “That was the best part of it all."
To watch the festival and learn more about Essentially Ellington, visit JazzAtLincolnCenter.com.