History

Program History

“Swing Central is by far the most educational experience I have had with my students.”

Erin Stroup, Lower Moreland, PA

Each year, twelve outstanding high school jazz bands are selected from a large pool of applicants to participate in Swing Central Jazz workshops and the competition. All twelve bands receive three complete charts, one-on-one and ensemble instruction from the nation’s top educators, and a chance to win the Jean Elizabeth Faircloth award and $5000 to support their program. Past winners follow.

SCJ 2008
1st place: New World School of the Arts, Miami, FL
2nd place: Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
3rd place: Agoura High School Studio A Band, Agoura Hills, CA

SCJ 2009
1st place: Pacific Crest Community School Jazz Band, Portland, OR
2nd place: Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
3rd place: Battleground High School Jazz Band, Battleground, WA

SCJ 2010
1st place: Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2nd place: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville, FL
3rd place: Agoura High School Studio A Band, Agoura Hills, CA

SCJ 2011
1st Place: Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble, Fort Lauderdale, FL
2nd Place: Newport High School Jazz Ensemble I, Bellevue, WA
3rd Place: Agoura High School Studio Jazz, Agoura Hills, CA

SCJ 2012
1st Place (tie): Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble, Fort Lauderdale, FL
1st Place (tie): Agoura High School Studio Jazz, Agoura Hills, CA
2nd Place: Temple High School Highlighters, Temple, TX

SCJ 2013
1st Place: Agoura High School Studio Jazz, Agoura Hills, CA
2nd Place: Downers Grove South High School Jazz Band, Downers Grove, IL
3rd Place: Tarpon Springs High School Jazz Ensemble, Tarpon Springs, FL

SCJ 2014
1st Place: Agoura High School Studio Jazz, Agoura Hills, CA
2nd Place: Overton High School Blue Jazz Ensemble, Memphis, TN
3rd Place: Mountlake Terrace High School Jazz Ensemble I, Mountlake Terrace, WA

SCJ 2015
1st Place: Agoura High School Studio Jazz, Agoura Hills, CA
2nd Place: Byron Center High School Jazz Orchestra, Byron Center, MI
3rd Place: Tarpon Springs Conservatory Jazz Orchestra, Clearwater, FL

SCJ 2016
1st Place: Dreyfoos School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble I, West Palm Beach, FL
2nd Place: Agoura High School Studio Jazz, Agoura Hills, CA
3rd Place: The Lovett Ellington Jazz Ensemble, Atlanta, GA

SCJ 2017
1st Place: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble I, Jacksonville, FL
2nd Place:Byron Center High School Jazz Orchestra, Byron Center, MI
3rd Place: Agoura High School Jazz “A” Band, Agoura Hills, CA

SCJ 2018
1st Place: SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Big Band, San Francisco, CA
2nd Place: Agoura High School Studio Jazz, Agoura Hills, CA
3rd Place: Rio Americano High School AM Jazz Ensemble, Sacramento, CA

SCJ 2019
1st Place: Memphis Central High School Jazz Band, Memphis, TN
2nd Place: Tarpon Springs Conservatory Jazz Orchestra, Clearwater, FL
3rd Place: Enloe High School Jazz Ambassadors, Raleigh, NC