Select 1 Combo Members Take Home Individual Awards at Mingus Competition
The Rivers Select 1 Combo travelled to the Manhattan School of Music over the weekend for the annual Charles Mingus High School Jazz Competition as one of the top four high school ensembles in the country.
The Rivers Select 1 Combo travelled to the Manhattan School of Music over the weekend for the annual Charles Mingus High School Jazz Competition as one of the top four high school ensembles in the country. The ensemble competed for the “Best Combo” award and although it did not win, a few individuals were recognized.
John Nydam ’15 was honored with an outstanding soloist award and was asked to sit in and play with the Mingus Big Band on Sunday night following the competition. Also receiving an outstanding soloist award was Michael Manasseh ‘19, which is particularly impressive given that Michael was the only middle school student in the entire competition.
Rachel Hawley ’15 earned the best arranger award, given to the student who arranges the best interpretation of a Mingus composition. Rachel arranged Mingus’ “Sue’s Changes,” written for his wife and co-director of the competition, Sue Mingus.
“Her arrangement included a very dramatic and virtuosic bass cadenza which brought the entire audience to their feet,” said Jazz Band Director Phillippe Crettien.
James Hotchkiss ’14, Richard Oates ’14, James Juviler ’14, and Jake Stenquist ’15 make up the rest of the ensemble. This competition comes on the heels of a successful performance at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival the previous weekend.
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