Tivon Pennicott, UM Frost School of Music Alum, Reaches Semifinals in Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition

2013 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition and 

All-Star Gala Concert, Made Possible by Cadillac, Will Take Place 

September 15-16 in Washington, D.C.

Wayne Shorter to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Special Tribute to George Duke

Talent Line-up Includes John Beasley (Musical Director), Brian Blade, 

Terri Lyne Carrington, Vinnie Colaiuta, Kurt Elling, Robben Ford, James Genus, 

Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Ledesi, Branford Marsalis, Marcus Miller, T.S. Monk, John Patitucci, Danilo Pérez, Take 6 and other Special Guests

Washington, D.C.--The 26th annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition presented by the world-renowned Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, will take place September 15-16. Open to musicians under age 30 from across the globe, this year's competition will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter as well as paying tribute to the late George Duke.

The Semifinals of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition will be held on Sunday, September 15th, from l:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium inside the National Museum of American History. The semifinalists will compete before an all-star panel of judges including jazz saxophonists Jane Ira Bloom, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, and Bobby Watson. Each semifinalist will perform for 15 minutes, accompanied by Rodney Whitaker on bass, Reginald Thomas on piano, and Carl Allen on drums, and from this group the judges will select three finalists who will perform in the final round at the Kennedy Center on Monday evening, September 16th. At stake are over $100,000 in scholarships and prizes including a $25,000 first place scholarship and guaranteed recording contract with Concord Music Group; a $15,000 second place scholarship; and a $10,000 third place scholarship. Cadillac is the Presenting Sponsor for the weekend, and air transportation will be provided by United Airlines, Official Airline of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.  

Following the three finalists' performances at the Competition Finals, an All-Star Gala Concert at The Kennedy Center will bring together some of the biggest names in jazz, including John Beasley (Musical Director), Brian Blade, Terri Lyne Carrington, Vinnie Colaiuta, Robben Ford, Kurt Elling, James Genus, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Ledesi, Branford Marsalis, Marcus Miller, T.S. Monk, John Patitucci, Danilo Pérez, Take 6 and others. Also performing in the festivities will be the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance college students along with the 2013 edition of the Thelonious Monk Institute National Performing Arts High School All-Star Jazz Sextet. Additional talent will be announced shortly.

At the concert, the Institute will present the legendary Wayne Shorter with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his extraordinary, six-decade career as a saxophonist, educator and composer. In the Institute's nearly 30-year history, this is only the second time the award has been presented, the first being to Quincy Jones in 1996. There will also be a special tribute to the late George Duke, a longtime friend and supporter of the Institute, who was scheduled to serve as the evening's Musical Director. Many of Duke's longtime musical collaborators will perform in his memory.

The semifinals will be streamed online at MonkInstitute.org and facebook.com/monkinstitute. The Competition finals will be taped as a documentary for BET/Centric television. The documentary will include performance clips and interviews with the semifinalists and judges. Air transportation is provided by United Airlines, Official Airline of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

Proceeds from the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition and All-Star Gala Concert will help fund the Institute's public school jazz and blues education programs across Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Delta.

Editors please note the following event and ticket information:

 

Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition Semifinals

Sunday, September 15th, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. with ticket distribution at 12:00 p.m.

Baird Auditorium at the National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. & Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC

Tickets are free of charge and will be distributed by the Smithsonian Associates at the National Museum of Natural History on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition Finals

and All-Star Gala Concert

Monday, September 16th, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater, 2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC

Tickets are $50 to $75 and may be purchased via the Kennedy Center box office in person, by calling 800.444.1324, or online at www.kennedy-center.org. Information regarding VIP packages, which include admission to the post-event VIP Cast Party, is available from the Institute at 202.364.7272 or bjones@monkinstitute.org.

Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Assembly Program at Woodrow Wilson High School, Washington, DC

Tuesday, September 17th at 10:00am

Woodrow Wilson High School, 3950 Chesapeake St. NW, Washington, DC 20016

Assembly program for 800 Washington DC students featuring Herbie Hancock, T.S. Monk, Bobby Watson and the Monk Institute's Jazz Performance Program college students

Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, a nonprofit jazz education organization, was founded in 1986 in memory of the legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk. The Institute fosters the next generation of jazz greats by offering the world's most promising young musicians college level training by internationally recognized jazz masters, educating young people around the world about jazz through innovative public school programs, and presenting a wide range of initiatives that expand and perpetuate America's indigenous musical art form. Visit the Institute at www.monkinstitute.org.

Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition

Since 1987, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz has presented the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, which is recognized as the world's most prestigious jazz competition and for discovering the next generation of jazz masters. Each year, major scholarships and prizes including recording contracts are awarded to the talented young musicians participating in the Competition. The scholarships help pay tuition for college-level jazz education studies and provide funds for private, specialized instruction. Past judges have included Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, Branford Marsalis, Christian McBride, Pat Metheny, Hugh Masekela and many others.

Competition Semifinalists

Melissa Aldana 

was born in Santiago, Chile, and began playing saxophone at age 6. She attended the Berklee College of Music as a Berklee Presidential Scholar. While at Berklee, Aldana studied with Joe Lovano, George Garzone, Frank Tiberi, Greg Osby, Hal Crook, Dave Santoro, Bill Pierce, Dino Govoni and Ralph Peterson. She has appeared at venues such as the Blue Note Jazz Club, the Iridium, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Village Vanguard, the Jazz Standard and Smalls Jazz Club.  

Braxton Cook 

was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. He began playing saxophone at age 10 and later studied at Georgetown University before transferring to the Juilliard School. Cook has studied under Steve Wilson, Ron Blake and Paul Carr, and received the Irene Diamond Scholarship to attend Juilliard. He has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Gerald Albright, Cassandra Wilson, Joe Lovano, Terell Stafford and Terence Blanchard, and recently toured Europe as part of the Christian Scott Sextet.  

Sam Dillon 

was born in Great Neck, New York, and began playing saxophone at age 10. He received his master's degree in music from Purchase College, State University of New York. In addition to hosting many jazz workshops, Dillon has taught music lessons locally for the past 8 years. He has recently performed with the Artie Shaw Jazz Orchestra, Cecilia Coleman Big Band and Joe Chambers' "Moving Pictures" Jazz Orchestra, and has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, the Iridium and Yoshi's Jazz Club.  

Lukas Gabric 

was born in Villach,Austria, and began playing saxophone at age 11. He attended the City College of New York and New School University, where he received the Thomas D. Michael Scholarship. A woodwind ensemble coach at the Frank Sinatra High School for the Performing Arts, Gabric has performed at the Apollo Theatre, Smalls Jazz Club, at international jazz festivals across Europe. He was recently accepted into the Juilliard School, where he is pursuing a jazz studies diploma.  

Andrew Gould 

was born in Long Island, New York, and began playing saxophone at age 10. He graduated magna cum laude from Purchase College, State University of New York, receiving the James Moody Scholarship Award before attaining his master of music degree at the Manhattan School of Music. Gould has studied under George Garzone, Jimmy Greene, Steve Wilson, Jon Gordon and Dave Pietro, and has toured internationally. He has performed with Jon Faddis, Bill Mobley and David Weiss, and is a member of the Wallace Roney Orchestra.  

Michael Griffin 

was born in Sydney, Australia, and began playing saxophone at age 11. He graduated from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and later attended the Sydney Conservatorium. Griffin participated in the 2012 Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and has performed at the Sydney Town Hall, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Entertainment Center and Novotel Hotel. A James Morrison Scholarship finalist for four consecutive years, Griffin has shared the stage with Joe Lovano, Kirk Lightsey, James Morrison, James Muller, Jacki Cooper, Judy Bailey, Dale Barlow and Dave Panichi.  

Danny Janklow 

was born in Los Angeles, California, and began playing saxophone at age 11. He studied at Temple University and graduated with honors. Janklow has studied with Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts and Walt Weiskopf, and has performed alongside Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Benny Golson, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Wycliffe Gordon, Savion Glover, Karrin Alyson, James Torme, Danilo Pérez, Stanley Clarke, Nicholas Payton, Steve Wilson and Bruce Barth. He participates in jazz workshops at Stanford University and teaches privately in Southern California.  

Grace Kelly 

was born in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and began playing saxophone at age 6. After graduating from the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, she received a bachelor's degree from the Berklee College of Music. Kelly has performed with Harry Connick, Jr. and Wynton Marsalis, and appeared at the Kennedy Center as part of President Obama's Inauguration festivities. She has performed at venues around the world, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.  

Mike Lebrun 

was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, and began playing saxophone at age 12. He attended the Dreyfoos School of the Arts before graduating from Northwestern University with a double major in jazz studies and economics. Lebrun won the 2008 International Jazz Composer's Symposium and has studied with John Wojciechowski and Tom Garling. He has performed with Maria Schneider, Dee Dee Bridgewater, The Temptations, Bob Mintzer, Conrad Herwig, Ron Blake, Jim McNeely and Dave Liebman.  

Godwin Louis 

was born in Harlem, New York, and began playing saxophone at age 9. He studied at the Berklee College of Music before moving to New Orleans to complete his master's degree in music from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at Loyola University. Louis has studied with Terence Blanchard, JB Dyas and Jimmy Heath, and performed with Herbie Hancock, Danilo Pérez, Ron Carter, Gloria Estefan, Billy Preston and Benny Golson. He recently toured Italy, China, France, Venezuela and Mexico, and is a member of the Haitian Youth Music Relief organization.  

Tivon Pennicott 

was born in Marietta, Georgia and began playing saxophone at age 14. He studied at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music under the tutelage of Maria Schneider, Randy Brecker and Dave Liebman. Since 2007, Pennicott has been a member of the Kenny Burrell Quintet and performed at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Catalina Jazz Club and Yoshi's. He has recorded with Esperanza Spalding and Gregory Porter, and has performed with Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Heath, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove, Aaron Goldberg and Benny Green.  

Clay Pritchard 

was born in Grapevine, Texas, and began playing saxophone at age 12. In high school, he was selected to participate in the National GRAMMY band for two consecutive years. Prichard graduated from the University of North Texas, where he studied with Randy Lee, Jim Riggs and Marchel Ivery. Prichard has performed onstage with Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Maria Schneider and Dick Oatts. He currently performs with the bands Emerald City and Snarky Puppy.  

Dean Tsur 

was born in Timrat, Israel, and began playing saxophone at age 10. He attended the Israeli Conservatory before studying at the Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship. He went on to attend the Juilliard School of Music as a recipient of the Ruth Katzman Scholarship. Tsur has studied with Steve Wilson, George Garzone, Dino Govoni, Gan Lev, Mark Turner, Grant Stewart and Mike Tucker. He has performed at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Lincoln Center, and the Blue Note.  

Ben Van Gelder 

was born in Groningen, The Netherlands, and began playing saxophone at age 11. He studied at New School University before enrolling in the University of Amsterdam and the Conservatory of Amsterdam, receiving lessons from Lee Konitz and Mark Turner. Van Gelder has played with David Binney, Ambrose Akinmusire, Nasheet Waits, Aaron Parks, Ben Street, Thomas Morgan and Rodney Green. He was recently selected as the winner of the Deloitte Jazz Award, one of the most prestigious jazz awards given in the Netherlands.