Foxborough High Musicians Receive National Recognition at Essentially Ellington Competition in NYC

Foxborough was once again well represented at the annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City earlier this month as five students were recognized for their performances.

Alex Olsen was awarded outstanding piano for his performance at the 18th annual Ellington competition held May 10-12. Four other Foxborough musicians received honorable mentions:

• Nick Adair on drums
• Kevin Scollins on guitar
• Crissy Cavallaro on clarinet
• Angie Jepsen on saxophone and flute

“That is amazing to have five of our students recognized for their individual [musical talents] on such a nationally competitive level,” said Foxborough Schools Superintendent Debra Spinelli. “Very proud of them.”

School Committee chair Katie Adair, whose son, Nick, received recognition for his performance on the drums, attended the competition in NYC.

“It was wonderful,” said Adair. “They were amazing.”

Foxborough was one of 15 finalists to compete in the prestigious competition, chosen out of nearly 100 high school jazz bands across the country that entered the competition. Each school submitted recordings of three tunes performed from charts from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington library.

The competition and festival is the culmination of the annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Program (EE), which also includes regional festivals, teaching resources, a summer Band Director Academy, newsletters, and more.

The 2012-13 Essentially Ellington repertoire included, Duke Ellington’s “Blood Count,” “Bonga,” “Echoes of Harlem,” “Lightnin’,” “Royal Garden Blues,” and “Second Line.”