Three local high school jazz groups take honors at Essentially Ellington - Shorewood named Most Soulful Band

Shorewood Jazz Band. Back, far left Principal Bill Dunbar.
Back, center with light blue tie, Director Dan Baker.
Back, far right Athletic Director Joann Fukuma

The annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival is one of the most innovative jazz education events in the world. Each year, high school musicians from across North America travel to New York City to spend three days immersed in workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals and performances at the “House of Swing,” Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Jazz groups from Shorewood, Mountlake Terrace, and Bothell attended and took honors

31ST ANNUAL COMPETITION & FESTIVAL

APRIL 30-MAY 2, 2026 IN NEW YORK CITY

OUTSTANDING RHYTHM SECTION SECTION

Mountlake Terrace High School

HONORABLE MENTION SAXOPHONE SECTION

Shorewood High School

HONORABLE MENTION PIANO

Caden Forrest (Bothell High School)

OUTSTANDING PIANO

Sophie Ionitsa (Mountlake Terrace High School)

OUTSTANDING RHYTHM GUITAR

Mila Miropolskaya (Shorewood High School)

OUTSTANDING BASS

Marcus Torzillo (Shorewood High School)

OUTSTANDING DRUMS 7 named

Luca Manzo (Mountlake Terrace High School)

Zayne Cornelius (Shorewood High School)

HONORABLE MENTION ALTO SAXOPHONE

Seth Langford (Bothell High School) 

HONORABLE MENTION TENOR SAXOPHONE

Sawyer Lohrmann (Bothell High School)

OUTSTANDING DOUBLER (TENOR SAX & CLARINET)

Claire Dalan (Mountlake Terrace High School)

HONORABLE MENTION TROMBONE

Ethan Bennett (Shorewood High School)

OUTSTANDING TROMBONE

Wyatt Gutting (Mountlake Terrace High School)

HONORABLE MENTION TRUMPET

Kayla Ang (Bothell High School)

HONORABLE MENTION LEAD TRUMPET

Nate Bardsley (Bothell High School)

SUSAN C. GORDON AWARD FOR MOST SOULFUL BAND

Shorewood High School (Shoreline, WA)

Videos of Shorewood's musical numbers and the award ceremony are available on their Facebook page.