West Hartford’s Hall High School is a finalist in the 23rd Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, and will compete in the finals at Lincoln Center in May.

Submitted by Amy Schaffer, Student Activities Coordinator, Hall High School

Jazz at Lincoln Center proudly announced William H. Hall High School Concert Jazz Band as one of the 15 national finalist bands that will compete in the 23rd Annual Essentially High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival – one of the most innovative jazz education events in the world – at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s home, Frederick P. Rose Hall, on May 10-12, 2018.

Hall High School was among 109 high school jazz bands across North America that entered the competition. Each school submitted recordings of three tunes performed from charts from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington library. 

This is Hall’s first appearance in the competition since 2011 and one of only three participating schools from CT in the 20-plus year history of the festival.

All the finalist bands will arrive in New York City on May 10 to spend three days immersed in workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals and performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center. 

The competition will conclude on May 12 with a concert and awards ceremony featuring the three top-placing bands and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

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