Announcing the 2009-2010 Essentially Ellington Writing Contest Winners!

Click below to read the winning pieces.

First Place: Katie Johnston, Eau Claire Memorial High School, Eau Claire, WI

Second Place: Jack Chelgren, Edmonds-Woodway High School, Edmonds, WA

Third Place: Rachel M. Cantrell, West Ranch High School, Stevenson Ranch, CA

In 2009-10, the Ninth Annual Essentially Ellington Writing Contest invites students to submit an essay or short story based on themes relating to the this year's EE repertoire.

Submissions were reviewed by Jazz at Lincoln Center staff and special guest judge, Robert G. O’Meally, Founding Director of the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University and Zora Neale Hurston Professor for English and Comparative Literature.

Congratulations to our winners!

Past Essay Contest Winners:

Click below to read the winning essays from the 2008-09 Essentially Ellington Essay Contest:

• First Place: Elizabeth Vandorpe, Boston Latin School, Boston, Massachusetts
• Second Place: Bryan Le, Barrington High School Barrington, Rhode Island
• Third Place: Diane Reyes Tarpon Springs High School Clearwater, Florida
  

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