This marks another significant achievement for the talented young musicians, who proudly represent not only their school and county but also the entire state of Florida. The Osceola County School for the Arts Jazz Band A is the only high school jazz band from Florida to earn a spot in this prestigious competition, solidifying their reputation as one of the premier jazz programs in the country.
Last year, the Osceola County School for the Arts (OCSA) Jazz Band A delivered an incredible performance at the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, placing second behind Newark Academy from New Jersey. Alongside their strong finish, OCSA earned prestigious sectional awards, including Outstanding Rhythm Section and Outstanding Brass Section, cementing their reputation as one of the top high school jazz bands in the nation.
The band’s success didn’t stop there. Several OCSA musicians shone individually, earning accolades for their standout performances. Matthew Black and Sonialynn Jackson were honored with Outstanding Drums, Solomon Geleta for Outstanding Alto Saxophone, and Danial Browne for Outstanding Trombone.
One of the competition’s most significant honors, the Snooky Young Award, named after the legendary trumpeter known for pioneering the plunger mute, was awarded to Xavier Anderson. This was only the second time the award had been given, with its inaugural recipient being OCSA’s own Nathaniel Williford in 2023—the same year the band took first place, marking their second championship title at Essentially Ellington.
Such consistent excellence speaks volumes about the extraordinary talent fostered at OCSA. However, talent alone isn’t enough—it requires strong direction, guidance, and mentorship to thrive. That’s why the band’s director, Jason Anderson, was recognized as Outstanding Director in 2024, a testament to his unwavering commitment to nurturing and elevating young musicians.
With a legacy of remarkable achievements and a bright future ahead, it’s clear that the Osceola County School for the Arts Jazz Band continues to set the standard for high school jazz nationwide. Their blend of talent, dedication, and expert leadership is a source of pride for Osceola County and the entire state of Florida.
For the first time, Jazz at Lincoln Center has doubled the number of bands, from 15 to 30, selected to compete in the finals. A three day competition in years past, the 2025 Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival will take place over five days, which will include two rounds of competition taking place on two stages, Rose Theater and the Appel Room. The final concert and awards ceremony will be held on May 11 at the Metropolitan Opera House, located at 30 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY.
“In the first years of Essentially Ellington, we at Jazz at Lincoln Center were insisting on the integrity of the playing,” said Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Managing and Artistic Director. “Since then, so many great musicians have come through the program, and many of them have had a profound impact on the scene. I’ve also been impacted by the students and the interactions I’ve had with them over these 30 years.” He continued, “The fact that hundreds of thousands—perhaps even millions—of young people around the world have played Duke Ellington’s music, and his music has been distributed so widely through this program, is a tremendous source of joy for me. I truly feel that Jazz at Lincoln Center has contributed something of real value to the world. The music of Duke Ellington is certainly the highest level of what has come out of the United States of America.”
The finalists were selected from 127 schools, a record number, that submitted recordings of select tunes from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s R. Theodore Ammon Archives and Music Library.
In addition to highlighting the top high school jazz bands, the festival will recognize the winner of the 13th Annual Essentially Ellington Dr. J. Douglas White Student Composition and Arranging Contest. The 2025 winner is Ethan Liao from San Francisco University High School in San Francisco, CA. Liao will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the winning composition, entitled “By Candlelight,” will be recorded by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The prize also includes a trip to the 2025 Competition & Festival for a composition lesson with Grammy Award-winning artist Ted Nash.
The annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival brings musicians from across North America to Jazz at Lincoln Center to spend several days immersed in workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals and performances. This year, for the first time ever, three international guest bands will join to compete on stage in Rose Theater.
The top-placing bands will be chosen by several judging panels comprising distinguished jazz musicians and historians, including Joseph Jefferson, Ingrid Jensen, Sherrie Maricle, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Ulysses Owens, Catherine Russell, Reggie Thomas, Camille Thurman, Liesel Whitaker, and others to be announced.
One of the most innovative education events in the world, the Essentially Ellington program and resources for students and band directors are free of charge and aim to elevate musicianship, broaden perspectives, and inspire performance through the music of jazz icon Duke Ellington.
Essentially Ellington Festival events, including the final concert featuring the top-placing bands and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, will stream live on jazzlive.com. Tickets will be available for purchase in the coming months. For more information, visit jazz.org/ee.
