NCCU Jazz Ensemble To Perform At Lincoln Center In Jack Rudin Competition
Durham, NC – The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Jazz Ensemble will perform at Lincoln Center in New York City during the debut of the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship, a two-day invitational band competition.
The event, which takes place on Jan. 18-19, 2020, will feature sets from 10 ensembles chosen from among prominent university jazz programs in the country. NCCU is the only historically black college and university (HBCU) represented. The Jack Rudin competition is expected to become an annual event.
“This as a great honor and opportunity to participate in the Inaugural Rudin Jazz Collegiate Jazz Competition,” said Ira Wiggins, Ph.D., director of the NCCU Jazz Studies Program. “As educators and musicians, we strive to provide our students with quality education and hands-on experiences while maintaining the integrity of jazz.”
Honoring the legacy of Jack Rudin, a longtime supporter of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the competition will provide participants with quality musical literature and a forum for celebrating their achievements while instilling higher education methodology and philosophy to the Jazz at Lincoln Center programs.
“This will be the greatest collection of young jazz talent in recent history,” said Todd Stoll, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s vice president of education. “These 10 bands represent the highest level of achievement in our music by young people.”
The two-day invitational competition will include a combo showcase and a final concert featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in Rose Theater.
“It’s not just about winning, but the significance of being recognized among nationally acclaimed Jazz Programs,” Wiggins adds.
The Jazz Ensemble will also participate in rehearsals, workshops, and competitions at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater. The final competition will feature performances by the top three bands, followed by an awards ceremony and announcement of the winner of top honors.
NCCU’s Jazz Ensemble practicing for the upcoming performance:
NCCU was the first university in the state to offer a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz studies. The program now includes a comprehensive vocal jazz component and offers a Master of Music in both jazz composition and jazz performance. Alumni from the Jazz Studies Program include professors at the college and university levels, teachers of primary and secondary music education, as well as production and performance artists.
To learn more about the competition, visit jazz.org.
North Carolina Central University prepares students to succeed in the global marketplace. Consistently ranked as a top Historically Black College or University, NCCU offers flagship programs in the sciences, education, law, business, nursing, and the arts. Founded in 1910, NCCU remains committed to diversity and access to higher education. Our alumni excel in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. NCCU is a constituent institution of the University North Carolina System. Visit www.nccu.edu.