Seattle's Roosevelt HS jazz band wins prestigious competition in NYC

SEATTLE — Seattle's Roosevelt High School took home the top prize at a prestigious jazz competition in New York City Saturday.

The last time a Seattle-area high school took home first place was nine years ago.

High schools across the country go after the top prize at the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition.

It's a three-day event that wraps up with performances at the famed Lincoln Center.

Roosevelt High School has competed for 19 of the 21 years since it was founded, but didn't even make it into the competition two years ago.

We caught up with the band, who returned from New York City over the weekend. They're busy rehearsing for their next performance.

“Having a chance to have that outside validation that our hard work paid off was very tear-jerking,” said trombone player Alexis Kim.

“For me, as a teacher, how hard these kids worked together as an ensemble but also in small group sectionals and soloists working with the rhythm section -- so the effort has been fantastic,” said Roosevelt band director Scott Brown.

Brown said half of the students in the band are seniors, so the win is especially memorable for them.

Cox Media Group