EE HomeProgramResourcesCompetition & Festival Writing Contest

The Essentially Ellington Writing Contest has been discontinued but we love hearing feedback from teachers and students about the program. We encourage you to send us ideas on other ways to celebrate Essentially Ellington through writing. We also encourage you to submit any unofficial pieces to ee@jalc.org or mail them to Essentially Ellington, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 33 West 60th Street 11th Floor, New York, NY 10023.

Past Essay Contest Winners

2010-11 Essentially Ellington Writing Contest:

  • First Place: Brendan Thomas, Foxboro High School, Foxboro, MA

2009-10 Essentially Ellington Writing Contest:

  • First Place: Katie Johnston, Eau Claire Memorial High School, Eau Claire, WI
  • Second Place: Jack Chelgren, Edmonds-Woodway High School, Edmonds, WA
  • Third Place: Rachel M. Cantrell, West Ranch High School, Stevenson Ranch, CA

2008-09 Essentially Ellington Essay Contest:

  • First Place: Elizabeth Vandorpe, Boston Latin School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Second Place: Bryan Le, Barrington High School Barrington, Rhode Island
  • Third Place: Diane Reyes Tarpon Springs High School Clearwater, Florida

2007-08 Essentially Ellington Essay Contest:

  • First Place: Kelsey Van Dalfsen, Mountlake Terrace High School, Mountlake Terrace, WA
  • Second Place: Lina A. Colucci, Lexington High School, Lexington, MA
  • Third Place: Emily A. Pecoraro, Guilford High School, Guilford, CT

2006-07 Essentially Ellington Essay Contest:

  • First Place: Alex Dugdale, Roosevelt High School, Seattle, WA
  • Second Place: Jon Morgenstern, Mamaroneck High School, Mamaroneck, NY
  • Third Place: Julie Hansbrough, Greenwood High School, Bowling Green, KY

2005-06 Essentially Ellington Essay Contest:

  • First Place: Jamie Uptall, Eau Claire Memorial High School, Eau Claire, WI
  • Second Place: Karl Stabnau, Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra, Rochester, NY
  • Third Place: Andrew Iser, Calabasas High School, Calabasas, CA

2004-05 Essentially Ellington Essay Contest:

  • First Place: Karl Stabnau, Eastman Youth Jazz Ensemble, Rochester, NY
  • Second Place: Amy Dee, Eau Claire North High School, Eau Claire, WI
  • Third Place (tie): Jonathan Challoner, Kwalikum Secondary School, Coombs, British Columbia
  • Third Place (tie): Hannah Clevenson, Western Albermarle High School, Charlottesville, VA