Deborah Moore posted on May 26, 2010 13:01
The PSHS Jazz Ensemble was one of 15 bands from around the country selected to compete in the Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City, May 7-11.
They had the experience of a lifetime. After the announcement in late February, $20,000 had to be raised in a very short period of time. A second Swing Dance of the year was held, concessions were sold and ensemble members passed hats at Pre-UIL concerts, and participated in a community garage sale to raise money.
A very generous anonymous grant sealed the deal. 19 Jazz Ensemble members, 2 parent chaperones, Director Jeremy Kondrat and PSHS Principal Dr. Doyle Dean, along with parent band fans departed DFW Airport on May 7 and were treated to a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline flying into La Guardia airport.
They stayed in the heart of Manhattan and were just blocks from Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Ed Sullivan Theatre, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, 5th Avenue and Central Park. After checking in they headed to a local pizzeria for some real NY pizza.
Saturday morning they took the Top of the Rock tour with a beautiful view of the NY metropolitan area.
Then it was off to the Lincoln Center to work on their performance with one of the Lincoln Center clinicians. They were given the opportunity to ask Jazz Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis one on one questions, rehearsed and participated in instrument workshops. That evening they were treated to a Festival Banquet and 7 members participated in a jam session with other band’s musicians.
Then it was off to Times Square and NY cheesecake at a local deli and street vendor hot dogs. The competition started on Sunday and Plano was the 7th band to compete. That evening the ensemble rode the NY subway to the Blue Note Jazz Club in the Village to hear the Chick Corea trio perform and have dinner.
Monday was the second day of competition with a break for lunch in Central Park. Monday evening the top three bands performed, The Jazz performed, Wynton Marsalis emceed the awards ceremony and announced that Dr. Dean, who accompanied the ensemble would be retiring after 45 years of service to the school district and 24 years as PSHS Principal.
Outstanding Soloist Awards were given to trombone player Derek Hawkes and alto saxophone player Scott Lindeman. The band directors were all asked to come on stage to be recognized and were each given a festival certificate. Mr. Marsalis announced that each participant would receive an Essentially Ellington certificate signed by him.
After the ceremony they were off to a local hot dog spot and more pizza! Everyone was up at 5am Tuesday morning to go to the Today Show. Everyone proudly wore their Plano Band shirt and waved their Wildcat paw and were on TV several times. American Idol’s Aaron Kelly greeted the band and Today’s Al Roker and Meredith Viera very graciously shook everyone’s hand and posed for photos.
Everyone arrived back in Plano tired after the whirlwind weekend, but smiling and filled with memories that will last forever.
To view the article on the Plano Star Local News website go to