COMPETITION PART I
FRIDAY, MAY 1 – 12:30 PM
• Beloit Memorial High School (Beloit, WI), directed by Chris Behrens
• Esperanza High School (Anaheim, CA), directed by Bradley Davis
• Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble (Raleigh, NC), directed by Gregg Gelb
• Byron Center High School (Byron Center, MI), directed by Marc Townley
• Alexander Hamilton High School (Los Angeles, CA), directed by Philip Topping
• Mountlake Terrace High School (Mountlake Terrace, WA), directed by Darin Faul

COMPETITION PART II
FRIDAY, MAY 1 – 4:00 PM
• Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage (Wheaton, IL), directed by Robert Blazek
• Jazz Houston (Houston, TX), directed by David Caceres
• Bothell High School (Bothell, WA), directed by Zane Romanek
• Orange County School of the Arts (Santa Ana, CA), directed by John Reynolds
• William H. Hall High School (West Hartford, CT), directed by Phil Giampietro
• McKinney North High School (McKinney, TX), directed by Connor Vaughn

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The annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival is one of the most innovative jazz education events in the world. Each year, high school musicians from across North America travel to New York City to spend three days immersed in workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals and performances at the “House of Swing,” Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Launched in 1995, Essentially Ellington is a free program for high school jazz bands that aims to elevate musicianship, broaden perspectives, and inspire performance. EE provides high school and college band directors with resources for the study and performance of big band music. Any high school or college-aged jazz ensemble can join the EE network by registering in our EE Members Only portal, free of charge. Upon doing so, the ensemble remains a member going forward.