Congratulations to Edmonds-Woodway, Roosevelt and Garfield High Schools for their qualification to the 2013 Essentially Ellington competition hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.

Edmonds-Woodway director Jake Bergevin posted on Facebook: The students spend a good deal of energy and frustration trying to get their sound similar to one of the greatest professional performing groups of all time. Ellington’s band was on the road for over 50 years. I admire the students for their dedication to the their craft and for the single minded focus to aim for excellence. Huge thanks to the musicians, our supportive administration including Principal Miriam Mickelson, program manager Scott Barnes and our amazing EW Music Booster Club.

The Garfield Band Boosters said in a press release, This will mark the 12th time in the last 15 years that band director Clarence Acox has led Garfield to this prestigious event!

In a departure from the past, Essentially Ellington this year chose to select three bands from each of five broad geographic regions. Washington is grouped in Region One with Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territory.

Click here for a full list of finalists.

Category:
Seattle Jazz