STUDENT JAZZ COMPETITION
2025 Student Competition Winners
Jazz Pensacola hosts an annual Student Jazz Competition for middle, high, and college students throughout the region. Students submit a recorded piece for consideration by the judges, then finalists from each division will perform in the live finals. Cash prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place in each division.
High School Instrumental Division:
First Place: Andersen Shell - Niceville High School
Second Place: Tristan Lopez - Pace High School
Third Place: Fawaz Hamid - Pace High School
Jazz Vocal Division:
First Place: Kayla Neely - University of West Florida
Second Place: Danylo Cherkashyn - Pensacola State College
Third Place: Gabrielle Carley - University of West Florida
College Instrumental Division:
First Place: David Lyon – University of West Florida
Second Place: Nehemiah Trotman – University of West Florida
Third Place: Alyssa-James Gray – University of West Florida
Heartfelt Appreciation to our 2024 Sponsors and Jazz Education Team Supporters (JETS), Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE), Studer Foundation, Dr. Michelle Brandhorst, Steve Douglas, Roger and Kat Villines
Stay tuned for information on the 2026 Student Jazz Competition. The information below is helpful for those who would like to compete.
Important Information for Competing Students:​
​​Play-Along / Backing Tracks for Student Jazz Competition Applicants
The following downloadable play-alongs / backing tracks can be used for your preliminary recordings as desired.
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Piano is panned full left, and Bass is panned full right (much like Jamey Aebersold play-alongs), so pianists and bassists can exclude the opposite instrument by adjusting the balance control.
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Most of the jazz standard recordings offer two versions: one with four choruses of the tune and one with three choruses (labeled Minus 1C), giving the applicant the option of performing one or two choruses of improvisation.
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The vocal jazz standards are two choruses in length, affording space for scat or other melodic improvisation on a portion of the second chorus.
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The vocal blues selections also have some space for scat improvisation built in as indicated on the lead sheets.
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Lead sheet PDFs, produced using Finale notation software, can also be downloaded for use with the recordings. Versions are provided for concert key treble and bass clef (BC) plus Bb and Eb instruments.
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Two backing tracks for drummers are provided, “Billie’s Bounce” for the blues and “On Green Dolphin Street” for the jazz standard.
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All of the recordings are sequenced via Apple Logic Pro using Garritan software instruments.
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Whatever tunes you choose, highly recommend listening to a rendition or two by jazz greats. This will help guide your interpretation of the style and articulation of the melody and provide ideas for improvisation.
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Commercially available play-alongs can also be used for recordings, but the tune length needs to be limited to the number of choruses specified in the application.
Remember, it’s always a great idea and fun time to perform in a small group combo setting with
friends/schoolmates.
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Below is a list of downloadable audio examples, mp3 files and lead sheet PDFs for suitable application blues and jazz standards in the instrumental and vocal divisions. Click on the button above to download the zip file of audio examples, mp3 files and lead sheet PDF's.
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Tune List:
Instrumental Blues: Instrumental Jazz Standards: Jazz Vocal Blues: Jazz Vocal Standards:
Billie’s Bounce Autumn Leaves Kansas City Autumn Leave
Blue Monk Fly Me to the Moon Route 66 Fly Me to the Moon
Now’s The Time On Green Dolphin Street
Straight No Chaser Out of Nowhere
Take the A Train
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