Manhattan School of Music and Let My Children Hear Music/The ...

120 Claremont Avenue 

New York, New York 

10027–4698 

917 493 4469 tel 

212 749 7561 fax 

www.msmnyc.edu 

Office of Public 

Relations 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Date: February 22, 2012 

Contact: Debra Kinzler Sue Mingus 

Phone: 917 493 4469 (office) 212 736-4749 

Email: dkinzler@msmnyc.edu sue@mingusmingusmingus.com 

Manhattan School of Music and 

Let My Children Hear Music/The Charles Mingus Institute 

Sue Mingus and Justin DiCioccio, producers 

ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS OF THE 4TH ANNUAL 

CHARLES MINGUS HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION & FESTIVAL 

Country’s most talented young jazz musicians competed in day-long competition held at 

Manhattan School of Music on Sunday, February 19, 2012 

FUTURE OF JAZZ SHOWCASED 

Charles Mingus High School Competition took place as part of a four-day 

Charles Mingus Festival held throughout New York City, February 17 – 20, 2012 

This Year Celebrating Mingus’s 90th Birthday Anniversary 

New York City – The winners of the 4th Annual Charles Mingus High School Competition 

were announced at the competition’s conclusion on Sunday evening, February 19th at 

Manhattan School of Music. Sue Mingus, Director of Let My Children Hear Music/The 

Charles Mingus Institute and Justin DiCioccio, Assistant Dean and Chair of MSM’s Jazz Arts 

Program, announced the awards that included the Charles Mingus Scholarship given to one 

competitor to attend Manhattan School of Music. 

Awards were announced in two categories for each of the combo and big band performances 

– one for regular high schools and one for specialized performing arts schools. A Charles 

Mingus Spirit Award was given, as well as twenty outstanding soloist awards cited. In addition, 

an outstanding big band section was singled out. Prior to the awards presentation the 

audience was treated to a performance by the Mingus Dynasty -- Alex Foster, alto sax; Seamus 

Blake, tenor sax; Philip Harper, trumpet; Ku-umba Frank Lacy, trombone and vocals; Helen 

Sung, piano; Boris Kozlov, bass and Donald Edwards, drums. This year’s competition and 

festival also celebrated the 90th birthday anniversary of Charles Mingus. 

In presenting the awards, Justin DiCioccio said, “Everyone who competed today was a winner. 

The level of playing was remarkable and the best that I have heard yet at the high school 

level.” Sue Mingus commented, “All of the adjudicators were astonished with the musicianship 

heard today. For years, Mingus’s music was thought to be too difficult to perform, and 

today, the spirit and vitality that was heard by all of the young musicians playing Mingus’s 

music was really thrilling. The future of the music is in the hands of these kids. They are keeping 

the music alive.” 

All combos and big bands were required to play Mingus compositions, and in the case of the 

combos, many of the tunes were arrangements by members of the competing combo. Among 

Mingus’s compositions performed included such tunes as Fables of Faubus, So Long Eric, Haitian 

Fight Song, Better Get Hit in Your Soul, Jelly Roll, Nostalgia in Times Square, Peggy’s Blue 

Skylight, and Ecclusiastics.

Mingus High School Competition Winner’s Announced/ page 2 

The 2012 Charles Mingus High School Competition brought some of the country’s most talented young jazz musicians to 

New York City to attend workshops, play in jam sessions and to compete in the competition. Ten schools, hailing from California, 

Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin, were selected by leading jazz musicians and jazz 

educators to take part in the competition. The competition’s goal is to provide an opportunity for high school music students 

to explore the enormously varied works of Charles Mingus, who left one of the largest and most personal legacies in 20th century 

American composition, and to find their own voices within the music. 

In conjunction to the Charles Mingus High School Competition a four-day Charles Mingus Festival took place throughout 

New York City at Manhattan School of Music, St. Bartholomew’s Church and the Jazz Standard. On Saturday, February 18, 

brass, woodwind, and rhythm clinics were given by members of the Mingus Orchestra, as well as a student jam session and 

conducting clinic with Gunther Schuller, Justin DiCioccio and Carl Atkins offered. That evening, a concert of Mingus’s music 

showcasing his blues and gospel roots, performed by the Mingus Orchestra conducted by Gunther Schuller was given at New 

York City’s historic St. Bartholomew’s Church. And, Friday through Monday nights, Mingus ensembles performed at the Jazz 

Standard (NYC jazz club) including on Sunday night when the competition’s outstanding soloists, named earlier that day, were 

invited to sit in with the Mingus Big Band. 

WINNING ENSEMBLES AND OUTSTANDING SOLOISTS 

COMBOS 

Adjudicators: Randy Brecker, Justin DiCioccio, Carl Atkins 

BEST COMBO – REGULAR Category 

Lexington High School Jazz Combo; from Lexington, MA 

Kim Rodrig, alto/tenor saxophone; Josh Gilbert, trumpet; Matt Lee, trumpet; Chris Xu, guitar; Even Tarrh, piano; Isaac 

Levien, bass and Garrett Parrish, drums 

Band Director: Ken Gable 

Program: 

Nostalgia in Times Square, arranged by Evan Tarrh 

Ecclusiastics, arranged by Ken Gable 

So Long Eric, arranged by Josh Gilbert


BEST COMBO – SPECIALIZED Category 

Jazz House Small Group, Jazz House Kids; from Montclair, New Jersey 

Julian Lee and Zoe Obadia, alto saxophones; Liam Werner, trumpet; Rahsaan Pickett, guitar; Theo Wallentiny, piano; Alex 

Warshafsky, bass; and Conor Malloy, drums 

Band Directors: Radam Schwartz and Julius Tolention 

Program: 

Peggy’s Blue Skylight 

Nostalgia in Times Square 

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat


BIG BAND 

Ajudicators: Gunther Schuller, Alex Foster, Conrad Herwig 

BEST BIG BAND – REGULAR Category 

Lexington High School Jazz Ensemble; from Lexington, MA 

Saxophones: Kira Daglio Fine, alto saxophone and flute; Netana Markovitz, alto saxophone; Kim Rodrig, tenor saxophone 

and flute; Nick Kolibas, tenor saxophone; Noah Parker, baritone saxophone 

Trumpets: Jason Stein, Matt Lee, Josh Gilbert, Justin Foelix and Connor Ross 

Trombones: Tim Mock, Kai Kitayama and Dan Finch 

Rhythm: Kenny Wong Labow, guitar; Evan Tarry, piano; Isaac Levien, bass and Garrett Parrish, drums 


Program: 

Love Chant, arranged by Steve Slagle 

Gunslinging Bird, arranged by Steve Slagle 

Opus 4, arranged by Boris Kozlov


BEST BIG BAND – SPECIALIZED Category 

Jazz House Big Band; Jazz House Kids from Montclair, New Jersey 

Saxophones: Julian Lee and Zoe Obadia, alto saxophones; Nathan Rice and Jack Ferguson, tenor saxophones; 

Sasha Kolodny, baritone saxophone 

Trumpets: Justin Charles, Liam Werner, Jeevan Farias, Wallace Roney, and Sammy Melman, 

Trombones: 

Rhythm: 

Coleman Hughes, Ryan VanSlozen, Morgan McArthur, and Marli Horwitz 

Theo Wallentiny and Isaiah Thompson, piano; Rahsaan Pickett and David Zyto, guitar; Alex Warshafsky and 

Ian Kenselaar, bass; Conor Malloy and Cameron Macintosh, drums 

Band Director: Julius Tolentino 

Program: 

Gunslinging Bird, arranged by Steve Slagle 

Tijuana Gift Shop, arranged by Michael Philip Mossman 

GG Train, arranged by Boris Kozlov


MINGUS SPIRIT AWARD 

The Rivers Big Band, Rivers School from Weston, MA 

Saxophones: Meagan Hornblower, Duncan Orlander, and Michael Bailey, alto saxophones; Ethan Silverman, tenor 

saxophone; John McDaniel, tenor sax and clarinet; Brendan King, baritone sax and clarinet 

Trumpets: Nate Johnson, Griffen Green, James Juliver, Ben Soloway and Matt Burns 

Trombones: Chris Tomaselli, Jack Reid, Rachel Hawley 

Rhythm: Casper Adach and Richard Oats, guitar; Jon Levitt, piano; Adam Reid and James Hotchkis, bass; Jeremiah 

Campanelli and Eric Matthews, drums 

Band Director: Philippe Crettien 

Program: 

Jelly Roll, arranged by Sy Johnson 

Slippers, arranged by Andrew Homzy 

Nostalgia in Times Square, arranged by Ronnie Cuber 

OUTSTANDING SOLOIST AWARDS 

Twenty outstanding soloist awards, from both the combo and big band categories, were also given out on Sunday. 

The winners are listed below: 

Dakota Austin, tenor saxophone 

Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts, Hartford, Ct. 

Alex Butterworth, drums 

Jazz Ensemble 3, Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts, Hartford, Ct. 

Jeremiah Campanelli, drums 

The Rivers Big Band, Rivers School, Weston, MA 

Josh Gilbert, trumpet 

Lexington High School Jazz Combo and Ensemble, Lexington, MA 

Alden Hellmuth, alto saxophone 

Jazz Ensemble 3, Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts, Hartford, Ct.

James Hotchkis, bass 

The Rivers Big Band, Rivers School, Weston, MA 

Coleman Hughes, trombone 

Newark Academy Combo, Livingston, NJ and Jazz House Kids Big Band, Montclair, NJ 

Julian Lee, alto saxophone 

Jazz House Kids, Montclair, New Jersey 

Isaac Levien, bass 


Cameron Macintosh, drums 


Conor Malloy, drums 


Zoe Obadia, alto saxophone 


Adam O’Farrill, trumpet 

LaGuardia High School Jazz Sextet, LaGuardia High School, New York, NY 

Garrett Parrish, drums 


Nathan Rice, soprano saxophone 

Newark Academy Combo, Livingston, NJ and Jazz House Kids Big Band, Montclair, NJ 

Wallace Rooney, trumpet 


Lenard Simpson, alto saxophone 

Batterman Ensemble, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

Paul Wagenseller, tenor saxophone and clarinet 

Jazz Ensemble 1, Medfield High School, Medfield, MA 

Michael Wang, trombone 

Rio Americano Jazz Combo, Rio Americano High School, Sacramento, California 

Liam Werner, trumpet 


Mingus High School Competition Winner’s Announced/ page 7


OUTSTANDING BIG BAND SECTION 

Lexington High School Rhythm Section, Lexington High School Jazz Ensemble from Lexington, Massachusetts 

Chris Xu, guitar; Evan Tarrh, piano; Isaac Levien, bass; Garrett Parrish, drums 


CHARLES MINGUS SCHOLARSHIP WINNER 

Adam O’Farrill, trumpet from the LaGuardia High School Jazz Sextet, LaGuardia High School, New York City, was named 

the winner of the Charles Mingus Scholarship to Manhattan School of Music


PARTICIPATING ENSEMBLES AND SCHOOLS INCLUDED: 

Regular Combo: 

• Lexington High School Jazz Combo from Lexington, Massachusetts 


• Newark Academy Combo from Livingston, New Jersey 


• Rio Americano Jazz Combo, Rio Americano High School from Sacramento, California 

Band Directors: Max Kiesner and Josh Murray 

Specialized Combo: 

• Jazz Ensemble 3, Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts, from Hartford, Connecticut 

Band Director: Kris Allen 

• Jazz House Small Group, Jazz House Kids, from Montclair, New Jersey 

Band Directors: Raam Schwartz and Julius Tolentino 

• Batterman Ensemble, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

Band Director: Mark Davis 

• LaGuardia High School Jazz Sextet, LaGuradia High School, from New York, NY 

Band Director: Kevin Blancq 

Regular Big Band: 

• Jazz Ensemble 1, Medfield High School, from Medfield, Massachusetts 

Band Director: Douglas Olsen 

• The Rivers Big Band, Rivers School from Weston, Massachusetts 

Band Director: Philippe Crettien 

• Lexington High School Jazz Ensemble from Lexington, Massachusetts 


Specialized Big Band: 

• York College Blue Notes from New York, NY 

Band Director: Tom Zlabinger 

• Jazz House Big Band, Jazz House Kids from Montclair, New Jersey 


Charles Mingus (April 22, 1922 - January 5, 1979), a virtuoso bassist, accomplished pianist and bandleader, is recognized as 

a major 20th-century composer, whose entire works have been acquired by the Library of Congress – a first for jazz, and a first 

for an African-American composer. He recorded more than 100 albums and composed more than 300 compositions, music 

that is still considered far ahead of its time, leaving behind the largest legacy of composition in American music after 

Duke Ellington. The Mingus Bands remain devoted to his vast repertoire and under the artistic direction of Sue Mingus, play 

to critical acclaim throughout the world. Their critical and popular successes are a testament to the power of Mingus’s 

composition. The availability of his music through published arrangements, educational books, school courses, and workshops, 

coupled with the hugely successful Charles Mingus High School Competition, have extended the reach of his legacy. 

* * * * * 

All photos by Lena Adasheva.

Manhattan School of Music and Let My Children Hear Music/The ...

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