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Essay Contest winners announced!

This year, the Essentially Ellington Essay Contest invites students to submit a 500-word essay exploring the connections between Jazz and Democracy. Submissions will be reviewed by Wynton Marsalis, and the winning essayist wins a trip to New York City to attend the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival in May. First, second, and third place winners also receive a collection of prizes - including CDs, subscription to a jazz publication, Jazz at Lincoln Center gear, books, and scores for their school band directors!

Click here to download a PDF flyer with the details for the 2008-09 Essentially Ellington Essay Competition!

Past Essay Contest Winners

Click below to read the winning essays from the 2007-08 Essentially Ellington Essay Contest:

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

    Click below to read the winning essays from the 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
    Click below to read the winning essays from the 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

    Click below to read the winning essays from the 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



Jazz at Lincoln Center
Essentially Ellington
33 West 60th Street
New York, NY 10023

Email: ee@jalc.org
Phone: (212) 258-9812
Fax: (212) 258-9900

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