WHEATON, IL — For the second year in a row, the Youth Jazz Ensemble DuPage (YJED) is heading to New York City's Lincoln Center to compete in the Essentially Ellington Festival. The ensemble was one of just 20 high school bands form across the U.S. selected for the competition and festival.
Michael Shebar, a saxophonist who was selected for YJED in 2024, told Patch the 25-student ensemble, led by Robert Blazek, recorded three songs to submit to the festival.
Submissions from across the country were reviewed by judges who shared their feedback when they notified bands of their decision.
"It's safe to say they were a big fan of what our group is capable of," Shebar said.
Shebar told Patch that competing in the 2025 festival was "a memory that will stick with me forever."
He said last year's Essentially Ellington featured 30 bands, including international musicians from Australia, Spain and other countries.
"It was unbelievable to hear what all these high schoolers were capable of," Shebar told Patch. "I'm beyond excited to return and would be satisfied if it were even half as breath-taking as last year."
This year, Shebar will be featured on alto saxophone in YJED's performance of "The Gypsy." The song, composed by Billy Reid, was recorded by a quintet featuring saxophonist Charlie Parker in 1946.
"Being able to express and showcase something you have passionately worked at for a majority of your life on a stage like that will be surreal," Shebar said.
The ensemble really gels, both onstage and off, he told Patch.
"We are truly a family. There is a genuine spark of appreciation that everyone mutually shares for each other."
YJED's ensemble includes Shebar, Graham Pettit, William Sutherland, Brendan Hill, Anna Fernandez, Ivan Diaz, Sanjay Wilson, Ellie Penavic and Ryan Cotner on reeds and Ethan Ethan Oommen, Joseph Gabriel, Joe Alstadt, Ray Sanders, Josmar Teran and Ava Maxwell on trumpets.
On trombone is Jeffrey Choate, Adam Fleming, Sara Held, Gabriel Velazquez and Braden Pawlisz. The rhythm section is made up of Gael Jimenez, Ray Koerner, Henry Haak, Kyle Park, Damien Roque, Toby Morden and Wesley Miller.
Jurate Davies is the band's vocalist.
To prepare for the festival, YJED has rehearsed together for three hours weekly.
"Mr. Blazek does all the stopping and starting and showing us what needs to be fixed," Shebar said. "We follow his lead, absorb the music as we play it, and improve every time."
Just as last year's festival was unforgettable, it's likely this year —and the shared experiences— will impact the whole ensemble as deeply as it has Shebar.
"To me, so far, Jazz has been a mountain that I want to climb. The more I climb, the more mountain there seems to be, and I love it," he said.
"It's a beautiful art form that I only have a small grasp on, but I know that it is something that will fulfill me for the rest of my life."
The Essentially Ellington Festival will take place April 30 through May 2 at the Lincoln Center in New York.
Before heading to New York, YJED will perform a spring concert at 4 p.m. on April 26 at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, 10805 Main St., Huntley.
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