Hitting the Right Notes

By Eva Salzman '23, January 27, 2023

IC’s Jazz Ensemble takes part in national competition.

Mike Titlebaum directing the jazz ensemble

The IC Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Mike Titlebaum, took to the stage at historic Lincoln Center.

(Photo courtesy of Mike Titlebaum)

During winter break, the Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble traveled to New York City to, perform and compete in the prestigious Jack Rudin Championship at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.

The two-day championship, which IC was invited to take part in for the first time, featured ensembles from 10 of the most well-regarded university jazz programs in the country. The weekend offered the ensembles the opportunity to perform in both competitive and non-competitive formats. Additionally, there were master classes, Q&As with musicians, and an opportunity for IC’s ensemble to work with Obed Calvaire, the drummer for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

The judging panel for the competition comprised distinguished jazz musicians and educators Wynton Marsalis, Jeff Hamilton, Ted Nash, Catherine Russell, and Bijon Watson.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students,” said Mike Titlebaum, associate professor of music performance and director of both the jazz studies program and the ensemble. “It was a tremendous opportunity to meet aspiring musicians and teachers from other schools and get to hear what they’re all about.”

Watch the Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble's full performance during the Jack Rudin Championship at Lincoln Center.

Gracie Gonoud ’26, who plays the alto saxophone, said that performing at Lincoln Center is something she won’t forget.

“If someone told me a year ago, ‘You’re going to go to Lincoln Center,’ I don't think I would have believed them,” she said. “It's like a dream to be able to have that opportunity.

“The group had a really positive attitude throughout the whole weekend,” she continued. “We were so excited and honored to be there that our focus was mainly on learning and enjoying the experience. We were super supportive of each other, and professor Titlebaum was incredibly supportive of us.”

The event provided competition opportunities for both the ensemble as a whole as well as individual performers.

(Photos courtesy of Mike Titlebaum)

In addition to the educational aspects of the weekend, IC students took home honors for their standout performances. Dan Greenleaf ’24 received an honorable mention award for guitar, and Stephanie Pond ’23 received an honorable mention award for alto saxophone.

“Playing on that stage in that setting was terrifying,” she said. “During the beginning and the end of my solo, I was so nervous that I was losing control of my voicing and cracked a few notes. But for so much of my performance, I went to the place where all I can think about is the music I was making."

Stephanie Pond ’23

Pond recalled the experience of her award-winning performance.

“Playing on that stage in that setting was terrifying,” she said. “During the beginning and the end of my solo, I was so nervous that I was losing control of my voicing and cracked a few notes. But for so much of my performance, I went to the place where all I can think about is the music I was making. I wasn’t thinking about the audience or the competition; they weren’t even there. I made my saxophone cry, and I think — and hope — everyone in the room felt it.

“Just being able to play on the stage at Lincoln Center … it’s crazy that we even got to do that,” she added.

“At one point, some girls approached us and told us how encouraging it was to see so many women in our ensemble. It encouraged me to keep doing what I’m doing, because maybe someone’s five-year-old daughter was watching a livestream of the performance, wondering why barely any musicians looked like her — until she saw Ithaca College perform. That made me feel powerful.”

Stephanie Pond ’23

Over the course of the weekend, one of the things that stood out — to everyone — was the diversity of IC’s ensemble.

“Ithaca College had the most women on the stage,” Pond said. “Some of these ensembles didn’t have a single female musician, and it shocked me. At one point, some girls approached us and told us how encouraging it was to see so many women in our ensemble. It encouraged me to keep doing what I’m doing, because maybe someone’s five-year-old daughter was watching a livestream of the performance, wondering why barely any musicians looked like her — until she saw Ithaca College perform. That made me feel powerful.”

For Titlebaum, seeing the ensemble on the stage was a special moment.

“It felt wonderful to both hear them and see them in one of the world’s finest halls for jazz,” he said. “Before we went on stage, we did our typical pre-concert huddle backstage, where I told them that it didn’t matter whether we played perfectly or made any mistakes. We’re simply going to be the best version of ourselves we can be. They did a wonderful job, were 100% themselves, and I was very proud of every one of them.”