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EE 2026

LINCOLN CENTER NYC

Monday April 27 thru Sunday May 3, 2026

Please bookmark and refer to this page for information.

Changes will be made as we receive more information and we will do our best to update everyone via Remind.com

UPDATES:

4/13/26​​​​

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29 — IS A REHEARSAL DAY

  • Due to limited JJO rehearsal attendance, we have scheduled a full rehearsal day to ensure we are stage-ready.

  • Rehearsal: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

    • At approximately 4:15 p.m., students will perform a short set for parents. About 20 seats are available.

  • See itinerary below.

​

PERFORMANCE ATTIRE
 

  • Men

    • Black suit

    • White dress shirt

    • Black dress shoes

    • Blue tie and pocket square (link below)

      • Note: The flower accent is optional but may suit some of the women.

    • PURCHASE Blue Tie & Pocket Square ($10.00)
       

  • Women

    • Black dress or black dress pants

    • White blouse

    • Black dress shoes

    • Blue accent: Tie, Pocket square (link above) or Blue Scarf

​

GIFT CARDS | MONDAY, APRIL 20 @ REHEARSAL

  • Required signatures will be collected with instructions

  • Gift cards will be distributed (with suprise gifts!)
    ​

UPDATES FOR PARENTS

  • Charter Bus

    • We have upgraded to a larger charter bus for airport and hotel transfers. Parents flying on the same flight as the students may have the option to ride with us.

      • Availability depends on luggage and instrument space

    • Approximately 10 seats anticipated

    • Email info@yljc.org to be added to the list
       

  • Tuesday City Sites

    • We do not have any extra tickets for these events however parents are welcome to travel with the group (subway) and purchase tickets to attend. 

  • Wednesday

    • Performace for Parents

      • After the students rehearse will have a short performance for parents (see itinerary)

    • Group Dinner

      • We can help secure seats near the students (according to the owner), but please note that tables may be shared with others and YLJC is not responsible for dinner tabs.

      • If you'd like to reserve seats, please email info@yljc.org.

        ​​​

  • ​​Thursday: Official EE events are available ONLY for students and directors.

  • Friday: Tickets are not yet on sale for those who wish to attend. We are keeping tabs on this.​​​​

​Itinerary (subject to change)​​​​

Monday 4/27 — Flight to New York City ✈️

  • ​5:00 AM: Meet at San Diego International (Purchase food in the airport!)

    • Alaska Airlines #: AS 0024

    • San Diego, CA (SAN) to NY-Kennedy, NY (JFK)

    • Date: Monday, April 27, 2026

    • Departure Time: 6:52 AM

    • Arrival Time: 3:29 PM​

  • 3:29 PM: Arrive in NYC, Charter Bus to Park Central Hotel

  • 5:30 PM: Arrive at Hotel and Check In

    • 5:30 PM-9:30 PM: Downtime

  • 7:00 PM: Dinner Nearby

  • 9:30 PM: Return to Hotel

  • 11:00 PM: Lights out

​​

Tuesday 4/28 — City Sites 🗽🏙️

Wednesday 4/29 — Rehearsal Day 

  • This will be an intense rehearsal day so make sure you're rested and have eaten breakfast

  • Morning Downtime:  Breakfast Nearby (see Cheap Eats list)

  • 11:15 PM: Call time in hotel lobby

  • 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM: JJO Rehearal (Students only).

    • 4:15 PM to 5:00 PM: JJO performance for families (up to 20 seats).

  • 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM: Back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner.

  • 6:45 PM: Meet in hotel lobby & walk to dinner.

  • 7:00 PM: JJO Dinner at Nocello.

    • Invited: All students, chaperones, YLJC staff, board members, and select donors .

  • 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM: Downtime.

  • 9:30 PM: Return to Hotel.

  • 11:00 PM:  Lights Out .

​​​​

Thursday 4/30

  • Competition Schedule:

    • ​Thursday’s events are available ONLY for students and directors.​

      • 8:30-9:45am: Band Rehearsals (4 bands)

      • 10:00-11:15am: Band Rehearsals (4 bands)

      • 11:30am-12:45pm: Band Rehearsals (4 bands)

      • 12:30-1:00pm: Registration (all bands)

      • 1:00pm: Cheer Tunnel

      • 1:30-3:00pm: Q&A with Wynton Marsalis and JLCO

      • 3:15-6:00pm: Section Workshops

      • 6:15-7:30pm: Dinner for finalist students and directors (Directors offsite)

      • 7:30-9:30pm: Jam Sessions with students and JLCO

​Friday 5/1 ​

  • Competition Schedule:

    • 9:15-10:30am: Band Rehearsals (4 bands)

    • 10:45am-12:00pm: Band Rehearsals (4 bands)

    • 12:00pm: Break

    • 12:30-3:00pm: Competition Part 1 (6 bands perform)

    • 3:00-4:00pm: Break

    • 4:00-6:30pm: Competition Part 2 (6 bands perform)
      ​

  • 10:00 PM: Lights Out | Performance tomorrow!​​

​​​​

Saturday 5/2

  • Competition Schedule:

    • 10:00am-11:30am: Competition Part 3 (4 bands perform in Rose)

    • 11:30am-1:00pm: Lunch

    • 1:00-2:30pm: Competition Part 4 (JJO PERFORMS)

      • ​Osceola County School for the Arts (Kissimmee, FL)

      • Carroll Senior High School (Southlake, TX)

      • Young Lions Jazz Conservatory (San Diego, CA)

      • Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts (West Palm Beach, FL)

    • 2:30-4:00pm: Judges’ Deliberation/JLCO Autograph Signing/Band Director Meeting

    • 4:00pm: Announcement of 3 top-placing bands

    • 5:30-7:00pm: Soundcheck for 3 top-placing bands

    • 7:30pm: Final Concert and Awards Ceremony

Sunday 5/3 — Flight home ✈️

​​​

  • ​6:00 AM: Meet in the lobby (Bus to airport)

    • Alaska Airlines #: AS 0035

    • NY-Kennedy, NY (JFK) to San Diego, CA (SAN)

    • Date: May 03, 2026

    • Departure Time: 9:35 AM

    • Arrival Time: 12:48 PM

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AND TICKETS ​​

 

🎶 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
JJO performs on Saturday, May 2nd
⏰ 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Spot #19)

Competition schedule is listed in the itinerary or you can download using the links below 🎷

​Download EE Official Schedule

Download EE Order Of Performance

​

📅 JJO REHEARSAL WINDOWS
Please note that JJO will have a rehearsal on Thursday or Friday:

  • Thursday - anytime between 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM.

  • Friday - anytime between 9:15 AM and 10:30 AM.​

​

​​​​​Tickets for Essentially Ellington Competition 
The window for purchasing tickets through YLJC has closed. We do not have information yet on when tickets will go on sale. When they do, they will be available through the Jazz at Lincoln Center website. Please check this link frequently for both ticket updates and the full event livestream:

[https://jazz.org/education/school-programs/essentially-ellington]

​

🏨 Hotel Room Assignments

A randomizer was used to determine roommate pairings for the trip. 

Thank you for understanding that assignments are set. No special room requests.

Rm 1: Niko Gutierrez & Elias Nuspl (Chaperone, Robin Nuspl)
Rm 2: Brianna Dwyer & Thea Smith (Chaperone, Yolanda Keitany)
Rm 3: Collier Keitany & Jordan Yaeger (Chaperone, Yolanda Keitany)
Rm 4: Miles Dixon & Madhav Ramaprasad (Chaperone, Sherri Dixon)
Rm 5: Collette Cruz & Seraphina Bush (Chaperone, Robin Nuspl)
Rm 6: Malik Minert & Bobby Latona (Chaperone, Sherri Dixon)
Rm 7: Jad Marrewa & Tiam Khosravan (Chaperone, Robin Nuspl)
Rm 8: Henry Hartnack & Luca Posillico (Chaperone, Sherri Dixon)
Rm 9: Sean Edora & Kahlil Childs (Chaperone, Yolanda Keitany)
Single Rm: Sebastian Nilsson (Chaperone, Sherri Dixon)

​

CHAPERONE ASSIGNMENTS

  • YOLANDA KEITANY

    • Collier & Jordan Yeager

    • Brianna Dwyer & Thea Smith

    • Sean Edora & Kahlil Childs

  • ROBIN NUSPL

    • Elias & Niko Guiterrez

    • Collette Cruz & Seraphina Bush

    • Jad Marrewa & Tiam Khosravan

  • SHERRI DIXON

    • Miles & Madhav Ramaprasad

    • Henry Hartnack & Luca Posillico

    • Malik Minert & Bobby Latona

    • Sebastian Nilsson

QUESITIONS?

  • Please email info@yljc.org

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© 2025 Young Lions Jazz Conservatory. All Rights Reserved.
Young Lions Jazz Conservatory is a 501(C) (3) Nonprofit EIN: 82-1899094

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