I am pleased to announce the results of the 2021-22 David P. (’60) and Susan W. Wohlhueter Jazz Ensemble Composition Contest at Ithaca College! The contest concert will be held on March 5th, 8:15pm in Ford Hall and will feature guest saxophonist/vocalist Camille Thurman along with the Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble.
First, I want to give a huge thanks to all the composers. I am humbled by how many folks chose to submit their pieces to our contest, and also gratified that so many people are doing wonderful work in the realm of large ensemble jazz. We received entries from 14 countries outside the U.S. and from 14 U.S. states. Even though this contest is the realm of jazz composition, there was a huge range of styles and cultures represented among the pieces and judging was incredibly difficult.
I want to thank the Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble. I’m impressed by my students’ dedication to making the world a better place through music. They bring that positive energy and spirit to everything they do, including judging this contest.
I’d like to thank David and Susan Wohlhueter. We wouldn’t be able to host the contest without their generous support.
As we do every year, evaluation of entries was done anonymously. Judges had no knowledge of the identity of the composers until after the winning pieces were determined.
The results are:
WINNER, earns a $1000 (US) award plus a performance of their winning piece with Camille Thurman and the IC Jazz Ensemble on March 5th at 8:15pm (EST):
- Fireflies of Kobayashi by Masaya Taniguchi of Miyazaki City, Japan
ADDITIONAL HONORS
DAVE’S CHOICE, which will also be performed on the concert with Ms. Thurman:
- Deflated by Julie Maniscalco of Staten Island, NY
CAMILLE’S CHOICE, which will be performed on the concert with Ms. Thurman:
- Miss the Boy, Love the Man by Kathleen Sakson of Winter Park, FL
HONORABLE MENTION, will be performed on the concert with Ms. Thurman:
- Recordar by Miguel Ángel López Blázquez of Madrid, Spain
- Miradas by Nicola Corso of New York, NY
The following pieces are also awarded “HONORABLE MENTION” -- the band hopes to perform these on a future concert:
- One For Honey by Denin Slage-Koch of Greeley, CO
- Preludium for Jazz Orchestra by Jan Jirucha of Prague, Czech Republic
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Mike Titlebaum
Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies
Ithaca College School of Music