Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Regional comes to USC
February 9, 2025
Now in its 30th year, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington has been raising the bar for high school jazz education across the United States and internationally. The program provides all participating band members and directors free resources and support.
The University of South Carolina Jazz Studies is partnering with the organization to host the first Essentially Ellington Regional in South Carolina — one of 24 Regionals planned this year.
USC Jazz Studies instructor and USC Essentially Ellington Regional Director Lauren Meccia says ten regional high school jazz ensembles will perform for and receive instruction from world-class performers/clinicians.
Meccia and fellow USC Jazz faculty plan to visit every SC participating ensemble before the Regional for a clinic at their school. She says these visits are an excellent way for us to interact with the students before they come to campus and help them prepare for the big day.
USC’s Regional concludes with an evening concert with USC’s Left Bank Big Band featuring Rodney Whitaker and other special guests.
- Rodney Whitaker is a Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University.
- One of the leading performers and teachers of jazz double bass in the United States, Whitaker completed a seven-year tenure as bassist with the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and toured internationally with the Roy Hargrove Quintet.
- Whitaker will be joined by Jazz at Lincoln Center clinicians Christopher Crenshaw, JALC Orchestra trombonist, and Jim Gasior, multiple EE finalist director from New World School of the Arts (Miami, FL).
Also joining the panel of clinicians are:
- Dr. Matt White, USC Director of Jazz Studies, chair of the Center for Southern African American Music, and Associate Professor of Jazz Trumpet and Composition
- Dr. Colleen Clark, USC Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Founder and Artistic Director of Jazz Girls Day
- Dr. Michael Wilkinson, USC Associate Professor of Trombone
- Anthony Stanco, Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet, Michigan State University.
Participating high school jazz bands will perform throughout the day on February 20 in the Koger Center for the Arts (Columbia, SC) starting at 8:30 a.m., culminating in an awards ceremony at 5:00 p.m. The evening concert begins at 7:30 p.m. All events are on the Koger Center main stage, free and open to the public.
Regional bands include:
- River Bluff High School
- North Gwinnett High School
- Northwestern High School
- Swansea High School
- Gilbert High School
- Dutch Fork High School
- Lewisville High School
- Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra
- D.W. Daniel High School
- Stratford High School
