Michigan State University College of Music, Temple University Boyer College of Music and Dance, and North Carolina Central University finished first, second, and third, respectively, in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jack Rudin Jazz Championship competition. (MSU Jazz Orchestra 1 is pictured on stage in JALC’s Rose Theatre during the JRJ Championship).
The competition was held for two days, April 19 and 20, among 10 university jazz programs. The other seven were: Brigham Young University; California State University, Fullerton; Indiana University Jacobs School of Music; University of Kansas; University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
The competition honors the late Jack Rudin, a longtime supporter of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and his founding support of the Essentially Ellington program. Rodney Whitaker, Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass and Jazz Studies at Michigan State, in a news release, described the JRC as “an incredible event, and I am extremely proud of our students and our program. I want to thank Wynton Marsalis and everyone at Jazz at Lincoln Center for making this a great experience for us.” The MSU College of Music will receive a $10,000 first place award. Temple will receive $7,500, and North Carolina Central will receive $5,000.
Judges were pianist Ayn Inserto, saxophonist/vocalist Camille Thurman, drummer Jeff Hamilton, trumpeter Randy Brecker, and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, who is JALC Managing and Artistic Director.
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PHOTO BY LAWRENCE SUMULONG