Updated: The Ballard High School jazz band won several section and individual awards including the outstanding trombone section, outstanding trumpet section and Kate Webster (above) won for outstanding reed player. Ballard did not place in the top three bands overall (Dillard Center for the Arts took the crown), but a very strong showing nonetheless.
Roosevelt High School, the other Seattle school invited to the prestigious competition, won an honorable mention for the band overall.
Earlier: The Ballard High School jazz band played a remarkable set this morning at the Essentially Ellington competition at Lincoln Center in NYC.
“It was so much fun, we loved it, so much energy,” said Katie Webster, who plays alto sax (above).
Led by Michael James, Ballard is competing against 14 other high schools in the prestigious national competition. The top three bands will be announced at 1 p.m. our time (live stream), and the winner will be announced later today (we’ll update this post).
Here are a few photos from the set, taken from the live stream (the performance is not yet available online for replay):
