Congratulations to all the Finalists!

On Sunday, February 17th, competition finalists gathered to honor the memory and music of Charles Mingus.  Each band gave a commendable performance and displayed incredible heart and dedication.  Adjudicators considered rhythm, improvisation, interpretation, musicianship, and “Mingus Spirit” in their evaluations.

2013 Mingus Awards

Best Big Band

Non-specialized:  Boston Latin School Big Band

Specialized:  SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra

Best Combo

Non-Specialized:  Rio Americano Minguys Jazz Combo

Specialized:  SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo

Mingus Spirit Award

Batterman Ensemble, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

Outstanding Combo Arrangement

O.P. & Nostalgia in Times Square:  Coleman Hughes, Newark Academy Combo

Outstanding Sections

Sax Section – Lexington High School Big Band

Sax Section – Tulsa Jam’bassadors All-City Band

Outstanding Soloists

Alexa Dumont – Bass – Foxboro High School

Noah Harrington – Bass – Lexington High School

Logan Kane – Bass – SFJAZZ

Kanoa Mendenhall – Bass – SFJAZZ

Jonathan Haywood – Drums – Tulsa Jam’bassadors All-City Band

Garrett Parrish – Drums – Lexington High School

Elena Pinderhughes – Flute – SFJAZZ

Scott Veilleux – Guitar – Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

Joey Cozza – Piano – Rio Americano Minguys Jazz Combo

Peter Garofolo – Piano – Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

Kaze Mauser – Piano – Tulsa Jam’bassadors All-City Band

Julius Rodriguez – Piano – MSM Precollege

Sam Hart – Saxophone – MSM Precollege

Julian Lee – Saxophone – MSM Precollege

Emery Mesich – Saxophone – Rio Americano Minguys Jazz Combo

Nathan Rice – Saxophone – Newark Academy

Coleman Hughes – Trombone – Newark Academy

Willens Jean-Jules – Trumpet – Boston Latin School

Andrew Stephens – Trumpet – Rio Americano Minguys Jazz Combo

Liam Werner – Trumpet – MSM Precollege

 

FINALISTS:

Rio Americano Minguys Combo
Foxboro High School Jazz Combo
Newark Academy Combo
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo
Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Jazz Ensemble 3
Batterman Ensemble, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
MSM Precollege Combo
Boston Latin School Big Band
Lexington High School Big Band
Newark Academy Big Band “Chameleon”
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra
Tulsa Jam’bassadors All-City Band
MSM Precollege Big Band

This year, Sue Mingus offered the opportunity to play on Charles’ own legendary Lion’s Head bass in the Competition!

An excerpt from Ken Pullig’s master class Teaching Mingus

 

 

 

Woodwind Clinic Excerpt, with Scott Robinson & Wayne Escoffery

Newark Academy Combo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Batterman Ensemble from Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lexington High School Big Band

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Latin School Big Band

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian Lee from MSM Precollege Program

 

Logan Kane from SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Program

 

Elena Pinderhughes from the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Program

 

Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Jazz Ensemble 3