The Jazz Workshop Orchestra from Denver School of the Arts (DSA) is the only band from Colorado chosen as one of 15 finalists to compete in the Ninth Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Competition and Festival in New York May 22 to 24. The bands will compete for over $11,000 in cash awards at the competition finals.
 
The cash awards presented at the final concert, which go towards enhancing the schools' jazz programs, are: $2,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place and $1,000 for third place. Additionally, two bands each receive $750 honorable mention awards, and the remaining 10 bands receive a $500 award. Special awards are presented to outstanding soloists and sections.
 
Just over 100 high school bands entered the competition by submitting a recording of three Duke Ellington songs. In its nine-year history, this unique music education program has reached over 3,500 high schools across all 50 U.S. states, U.S. territories, Canada, Australia and American schools abroad. To date, over 200,000 students have performed Duke Ellington's music through the Essentially Ellington program.
 
The Jazz Workshop Orchestra (JWO) is the DSA’s top jazz band. Students meet every other day for an hour and a half and attend two after school rehearsals per week when needed. The JWO was selected as one of 15 bands nationally to compete in the 1999 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Festival hosted by Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra in New York. The band then served as the student ensemble for the Essentially Ellington Competition Director’s Academy the following year. The JWO competes and supports local jazz festivals and sends students every year to the All State Jazz Band.
 
Denver School of the Arts is located at 7111 Montview Blvd. The school’s phone number is 303-321-9345.