Jeffrey Hamilton

Three high school jazz bands took top honors on Sunday night at the 17th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center. The bands were chosen by a panel of judges composed of distinguished jazz musicians and historians, including Jazz at Lincoln Center's Artistic Director WYNTON MARSALIS; DAVID BERGER, BILL DOBBINS, JEFFREY HAMILTON and SHERMAN IRBY. The three top bands were chosen from a field of 15 finalist bands that participated in the three-day Competition & Festival from May 4-6.