Huston-Tillotson University’s Jazz Orchestra to Compete at the 2nd Annual Louis Armstrong HBCU Jazz Competition in Nashville, Tennessee on April 15
Thursday Apr, 13 2023
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Huston-Tillotson (HT) University Jazz Orchestra is set to showcase their musical talents at the 2nd Annual Louis Armstrong HBCU Jazz Competition in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, April 15. Held on the Tennessee State University campus, the competition hosted by Ronald Carter and Carter’s Jazz Clinics is an extraordinary and sonically innovative opportunity for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to exhibit their jazz bands’ skills with a focus on music that is deeply rooted in the Black experience.
The entire HT Jazz Orchestra, composed of 19 students, will be competing in the trophy-based competition. Each participating HBCU ensemble will be judged by prominent jazz musicians and ranked based on their performance. The Louis Armstrong HBCU Jazz Competition is the only musical competition outside of marching bands that is strictly for HBCUs. The competition originated virtually last year as the CJC-HBCU Jazz Festival, produced and presented by Carter’s Jazz Clinics (CJC). This year’s event not only marks a shift from a virtual competition to a live event but also celebrates the competition’s renaming in honor of Louis Armstrong, thanks to CJC’s new collaboration with the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation and Rising Tide Music & Arts.
Dr. William Oliver, HT’s Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education, expressed his excitement for the upcoming competition, “For a long time, the HT Jazz Program was regarded as one of the most comprehensive programs in the nation — serving as fertile ground for developing jazz legends like Dr. James Polk, Bobby Bradford, James Clay, Damita Jo, Leroy Cooper, Leo Nash Wright, Patrick Murphy, Charles Moffet Sr., Louie Carrington Jr., Alvin Patterson, Gil Askey, and even Count Basie’s current vocalist, Carmen Bradford! Participating in the Louis Armstrong HBCU Jazz Competition continues this rich HT jazz legacy and serves as a great honor for our students and our University. This competition provides a unique opportunity for our students to showcase their talents and interact with world-renowned musicians, ultimately enriching their learning experiences and advancing their professional development.”
Dr. Jeremy George, HT’s Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of Music added, “Our participation in the Louis Armstrong HBCU Jazz Competition is a testament to the exceptional quality of our music program at Huston-Tillotson University. We are proud to represent our institution and look forward to exhibiting our musical prowess at the competition.”
The Louis Armstrong HBCU Jazz Competition offers jazz bands from Historically Black Colleges and Universities an opportunity to perform for and learn from internationally acclaimed musicians. The event is sponsored by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation and Tennessee State University. For more information about the competition, please visit the official website of Carter’s Jazz Clinics, https://www.cartersjazzclinics.com/hbcu-jazz-fest-23.
About Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University, the oldest institution of learning 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.
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