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!