HUSTON-TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA TAKES TOP HONORS IN NATIONAL COMPETITION
Tuesday Apr, 29 2025
AUSTIN, TX (April 29, 2025) – The Huston-Tillotson University (HT) Jazz Orchestra recently made a powerful statement on the national stage by delivering a standout performance in Norfolk, Virginia, and placing the university in the national spotlight.
After competing against eleven other historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs, including Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, Jackson State, Norfolk State, and Grambling State, the Orchestra was selected as one of only two top-performing bands to open for the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by Grammy-award-winning trumpeter, composer and music instructor Wynton Marsalis. The concert, held in the Chrysler Hall, played to a sold-out audience.
The HT Jazz Orchestra members who participated were: Sanai Haymon Jallow, Jadon Porter, Makale Edwards, Xavier Linton, Marlyn Martinez, Nathan Wallace, Joshua Saffold, Tyler Whitfield, Paolo Dumancas, Joshua Garcia, Hillary Rhys Richard, Joshua Lister, Olivier Mixtur, Jordon Clark, and Jahleel Reynolds.
Several HT students also received individual honors for excellence:
- Most Outstanding Piano – Joshua Lister
- Most Outstanding Bass – Jordon Clark
- Most Outstanding Drummer – Jahleel Reynolds
- Most Outstanding Tenor Sax – Xavier Linton
- Most Outstanding Clarinet Soloist – Makale Reynolds
- Most Outstanding Trumpet – Joshua Saffold
- Outstanding Guest Drummer – Dorian Verner
- Most Outstanding Reed Section – Sanai Haymon-Jallow, Jadon Porter, Makale Edwards, Xavier Linton, Marilyn Martinez
“To see our students receive the highest honors on a national stage was unforgettable,” said Dr. Jeremy George, Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of Music Education. “After the performance, Wynton Marsalis personally greeted our students, praised their musicianship, and even shared his personal contact information with encouragement to stay connected.”
HT President Dr. Melva K. Wallace also expressed her delight in the Orchestra’s performance: “Competing against 11 of the finest HBCUs and earning a place onstage with the legendary Wynton Marsalis is incredible. These students are a testament to what Huston-Tillotson represents—excellence, resilience, and the transformative power of music.”
“I commend Dr. George, Dr. William Oliver, and our entire music department for their mentorship, brilliance, and unwavering commitment to our students. They have done more than teach music—they have also inspired a legacy.”
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About Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University, the first institution of higher education in Austin, Texas, has roots dating back to 1875. HT is an independent, church-related, historically black, four-year liberal arts institution located on a 23-acre tree-lined campus near downtown in East Austin. Huston-Tillotson University’s mission is to nurture a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values. The University offers associate and master’s degrees in addition to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 19 areas of study. Huston-Tillotson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees. HT is also an NC-SARA school. For more information, please visit www.htu.edu.
