President’s Cup, Essentially Ellington in the next 3 weeks

April and May are the last two full months of the school year, so a lot goes into them for Osceola County students—things like prom, prepping for graduation for the seniors, planning the next year’s classes for the rest, getting ready for trips to Washington D.C. and New York City to play music in front of national bands and the music industry … That last one is the case for a few music ensemble members at Osceola County School for the Arts.

Its Jazz Ensemble has earned a return trip to the prestigious Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival in New York. The 31st annual competition and festival among 20 schools from across the country will take place April 30 through May 2 at Frederick P. Rose Hall in the heart of the New York City jazz scene, and OCSA’s ensemble, which finished third overall, is the highest-placing returning band from last year.

But, before that, the OCSA Wind Ensemble will perform in the President’s Cup National High School Concert Band Invitational April 1518 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center at George Mason University in Manassas, Va.

At the competition, part of the celebration of 250th anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Wind Ensemble students will perform a collaborative piece of music on stage with the U.S. Army Band. It’s a nod they earned last year, so they’ve been prepping, practicing and rehearsing since the fall, but the work has really ramped up in the last week.

A small handful of students are in both ensembles … meaning it’s going to be a very busy next few weeks. For junior Diego Aviles, a drummer, April was already going to be busy with camps and local competitions.

“April is always ‘crunch time,’” he said. “We’ve really been prepping for (President’s Cup) all year so we’re starting to get excited. I mean, jazz is what I’ve wanted to do, and Ellington is a gathering of young musicians from around the country who are the most hungry.

“But in D.C., we’ll get to see how the U.S. Army band play marches, which is what they do best.”

Also saxophonist Madyson Cordero and flutist Olivia Jones will play with the Army band.

“The Army Band is one of the country’s best bands, and we’ll get to watch and hear them from within,” Cordero said. “It’s a chance to really learn something. It’s an exciting opportunity that I can put on my resume.”

Jones is a senior who said music will remain part of her life but not part of her studies when she goes to Florida State next year.

“The biggest band I’ve played with thus far is the All-State Band, so I’m sure I’ll look back on it as the biggest highlight of my music career,” Jones said. “It’s an exciting way to finish high school.”

OCSA’s Director of Concert Bands Bill Molineaux, a 13year veteran at the school, said while 20 bands were invited to Essentially Ellington, only eight will compete at President’s Cup. Among the extensive time the Wind Ensemble will spend with the Army Band include a clinic and master class with them next Thursday after arriving Wednesday, and a “Q&A” session with band members after performing the following day.

“I think I’m most excited for the kids to get to perform on a national stage with a professional-level master band,” Molineaux said. “We’re all excited for the competition.”

After a spirited rehearsal Monday that filled Molineaux’s room with the melodic sound of clarinets, saxophones, trombones, flutes and percussion accompaniment, he gave a stamp of approval.

“Oh yeah, they’re ready to go,” he said. “May have sounded better than (last month’s competition in the) MPAs.”

As for Essentially Ellington, the Jazz Ensemble hopes to recreate some of its past success, winning the 2022 competition. Last year it took home the Outstanding Trumpet Section award, Kiara Rouse and Paolo Zulueta-Lomanno earned Outstanding Tenor and Alto Saxophone, and Luis Fernandez Guzman earned Honorable Mention Clarinet. Guzman helped put OCSA on the national stage Friday, appearing on NBC’s Today Show.

For Aviles, who’s been to Essentially Ellington the last two years, said he hopes to attend The Juilliard School for musicians in New York after OCSA, so he hopes to make that “home turf ”.

“I’m really excited for the next couple of weeks,” he said.

The Osceola County School District and Osceola County Commissioner Viviana Janer have provided the OCSA bands with funding to make these trips sound exciting as their notes.