High School Jazz Band In West Hartford Will Play Broadway

WEST HARTFORD, CT — One of West Hartford's high schools has one of the best jazz bands in the nation, with a recent announcement from a major jazz band competition confirming that.

As a result, the William H. Hall High School Jazz Band, directed by Phil Giampietro, will perform this May at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

It will do so as one of the top high school jazz bands selected to compete in the 30th annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival.

Hall is Connecticut's only high school jazz band chosen to participate in the event.

The event will take place on May 7-11, at Jazz at Lincoln Center, which is located at Broadway at 60th St., New York, N.Y.

A three day competition in years past, the 2025 Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival will take place over five days.

The final concert and awards ceremony will be held on May 11 at the Metropolitan Opera House, located at 30 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, N.Y.

“In the first years of Essentially Ellington, we at Jazz at Lincoln Center were insisting on the integrity of the playing,” said Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Managing and Artistic Director. “Since then, so many great musicians have come through the program, and many of them have had a profound impact on the scene. I’ve also been impacted by the students and the interactions I’ve had with them over these 30 years.”

“I’ve watched this program expand and evolve over the years and am deeply proud of how Essentially Ellington has changed the landscape of jazz education,” said Todd Stoll, Jazz at Lincoln Center Vice President of Education.

For more information on Hall High School's Jazz Band, click on this link.