Ballard jazz band heading to the big apple

The Ballard High School jazz band has been selected for a prestigious competition and festival in New York City.

Announced today, Ballard and two other area schools – Roosevelt and Mountlake Terrace – will attend the 17th annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival this coming May 4th through 6th. Only 15 schools nationwide are on the list.

File photo of a 2011 competition at Frederick P. Rose Hall in Lincoln Center courtesy Essentially Ellington

Leading up to the three-day event, a professional musician will come to Ballard and lead the students in a day-long workshop of rehearsals, lessons and classes.

At the event the jazz bands will compete and participate in workshops, jam sessions and more. The finale for the weekend is an awards ceremony honoring outstanding soloists, sections and the top three bands. The top-placing bands will perform with the Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center as well as the 15-piece Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

This is the first time Ballard has been selected for the event. Congratulations!