Huston-Tillotson University’s Jazz Orchestra represented Black American music in New York, achieving third place at a prestigious collegiate jazz competition.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Huston-Tillotson University Jazz Orchestra brought its East Austin sound to one of the most prestigious stages in the world and came home among the top performers.
In January, the ensemble competed in the National Collegiate Jazz Championship at Jazz at the Lincoln Center in New York City, finishing third overall. Huston-Tillotson was the only historically Black college or university to place in the top three and the only all-undergraduate band recognized.
“For us, it was about more than a trophy,” said Dr. Jeremy George, director of jazz studies at Huston-Tillotson. “Jazz music is Black American music. So to be able to represent an HBCU playing Black American music on such a prestigious stage is such an honor.”
The competition, formerly known as the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship, invites 10 of the nation’s top collegiate jazz ensembles each year. George said the Austin-based university’s path to that invitation began several years ago with standout performances at HBCU jazz festivals and residencies.
“The first time Jazz at Lincoln Center heard us was at an HBCU jazz event,” George said. “From there, they saw the heart in what we do — a smaller school with a big, soulful sound. That led to this incredible opportunity.”
For Sanai Haymon-Jallow, a computer science major and lead alto saxophonist, stepping onto the Lincoln Center stage was the realization of a lifelong dream.
“I’ve been watching Jazz at Lincoln Center perform since I was 11 or 12,” she said. “To actually be on that stage, it was surreal. But once we started playing, it felt right. We were meant to be there.”
She said the group’s chemistry offstage made a difference onstage.
“You can tell that we all love each other and we’re all here for the music,” Haymon-Jallow said. “HT is small, but it’s a strong community. That really showed up when we played.”
Under George’s direction, the program has seen a revival — one he describes as a “resurgence of those voices you heard in the past, filled with swing, heart and soul.”
Though the band earned national accolades, George said the focus now is on growth, not glory.
“The title is fun, but it’s not something we hang our hats on,” he said. “It’s back to the grind. We want them to be the best musicians and the best people they can be.”
The Jazz Orchestra is already preparing for its upcoming spring performances in Austin. As for the students, the Lincoln Center experience has sparked new focus for the road ahead.
“That trip affirmed for me that I have to keep going,” Haymon-Jallow said. “Music has shown me her embrace, so I can’t let her go.”