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This year, the Essentially Ellington Essay Contest invites students to submit a 800-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!
For research ideas, visit the NEA Jazz in the Schools Curriculum, Lesson 5 “Jazz – An American Story,” at www.neajazzintheschools.org for an essay, photos, streaming audio, video, and additional resources.
Also, visit Education Events Online to see excerpts of “Jazz and American Democracy: A Symposium.” Jazz at Lincoln Center convened for the purpose of discussing the wide-ranging impact of jazz on American life, and panelists included Wynton Marsalis, President Bill Clinton, and moderator Charlie Rose, among teachers, scientists, researchers. Watch is here: www.jalc.org/jazzED/streamin.
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
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