Jazz Festival: Loonis McGlohon Young Jazz Artist Competition Winners
May 3, 2017 / Blog
Remember the awesome Jazz Festival we took over Uptown with last month? We're already busy planning next year's event but wanted to take a moment to celebrate the artists who competed in this year's Loonis McGlohon Young Jazz Artist Competition.
Aspiring jazz artists from 8th-12th grades auditioned to perform before a panel of judges (made up of artists from the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra) in our new Jazz Tent at Romare Bearden Park. The top five took the stage April 22, accompanied by a band of professional jazz musicians and the tent went wild.
Everyone was fantastic and after careful consideration the judges selected the top three.
1st Place: Ariel Mejia,15, trumpet - sophomore at South Mecklenburg High School
2nd Place: Lucas Kabasakalian, 15, vibraphone - freshman at Cannon School
3rd Place: Rachel Bettendorf, 18, guitar - senior at Carolina Christian Academy
Ariel and Rachel both placed last year, as well, and this was Lucas’ first time entering the competition.
The winners split prizes totaling over $8,000, provided by The Leon Levine Foundation.
CONGRATS and be on the lookout for next year's competition, here.