18th Annual Charles Mingus High School Competition

2026 AWARDS PRESS RELEASE

Final Adjudication Results for Annual
Charles Mingus High School Competition
7 States, 12 Ensembles, 164 Talented High School Students

NEW YORK, NY, February 18, 2026 — Top high school students from across the United States celebrated the music of the great bassist and composer Charles Mingus (1922-1979) as part of the 18th Annual Charles Mingus Festival & High School Competition at The New School of Jazz.

The event is organized and presented annually by Robert Ungaro of Let My Children Hear Music (The Charles Mingus Institute) and by Dr. Keller Coker and The New School of Jazz, with additional support from Jazz Workshop, Inc.

Adjudicators from Mingus Big Band and Mingus Dynasty were: (combos) Abraham Burton, Donald Edwards, and Andy McKee and (big bands) Wayne Escoffery, Boris Kozlov, and Earl McIntyre. In categories for both big bands and combos, twelve finalist ensembles were featured in this year’s festival. Finalists traveled from all over the country including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Details for the full weekend’s educational and performance activities and livestreams can be found at charlesmingus.org.

BEST COMBO
Rio Americano Charles Mingus Septet
Sacramento, California
Band Director: Josh Murray

BEST SPECIALIZED COMBO
Jazz House Ambassadors Combo
Montclair, New Jersey
Band Director: Mike Lee

BEST BIG BAND
Newton South High School Jazz Ensemble
Newton, Massachusetts
Band Director: Lisa Linde

BEST SPECIALIZED BIG BAND
Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra
New York, New York
Band Director: Tatum Greenblatt

MINGUS SPIRIT AWARD, COMBO
Rio Americano Charles Mingus Septet
Sacramento, California
Band Director: Josh Murray

MINGUS SPIRIT AWARD, BIG BAND
Lexington High School Jazz Ensemble
Lexington, Massachusetts
Band Director: Pat Donaher

Livestreams & More info

SUNDAY COMPETITION