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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.

UPDATES:

4/30/26​​​​

FROM JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER:

Welcome to the 31st Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival and the House of Swing!​

  • All bands are required to attend all Festival activities. This includes staying for the full Jam Session on Thursday evening, all Competition performances in their entirety (even if you are not performing) and the entire Final Concert and Awards Ceremony. Please make every effort to arrive at least 15 minutes before activities begin or at the time indicated on your schedule.

​Itinerary

(subject to change)

Monday 4/27 — Flight to New York City ✈️

  • Wear your standard YLJC logo shirt if you have one (optional). Let’s let everybody know who we are!

  • ​5:00 AM: Meet at San Diego International.

  • 5:30 AM: Check In.

    • Purchase food in the airport if needed. There are also snacks for purchase on the flight, and meals can be ordered online ahead of time.

    • Alaska Airlines #: AS 0024.

  • 6:52 AM: Departure.​

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

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

  • 6:30 PM-9:30 PM: Downtime

    • ​See Cheap Eats list on Map.

  • 9:30 PM: Return to Hotel

  • 11:00 PM: Lights out​​

Tuesday 4/28 — City Sites 🗽🏙️

Wednesday 4/29 — Rehearsal & Performance Day  🎼​

  • Morning Downtime:  Breakfast/Lunch Nearby (Reminder: Early dinner tonight)

    • ​See Cheap Eats list on Map.

  • 12:00 PM: Call time in hotel lobby (DON'T BE LATE!)

  • 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM: JJO Rehearal (Students only during rehearsal).

  • ​3:00 PM to 4:45 PM: Downtime (Stay near hotel or make sure you have pleanty of time to get back).

  • 5:00 PM: Meet in hotel lobby (DON'T BE LATE!) & walk to dinner.

  • 5:15 PM: Arrive at restaurant.

  • 5:30 PM: JJO Dinner at Nocello.

    • ​Generously sponsored by fan and photographer, Robert Howe! 🙏​

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

  • 7:00 PM: Walk back to hotel for performance (at the hotel: Park Central Hotel)

  • 7:10 PM: Watch performance by The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble (TYJE) (Raleigh, NC).

  • 8:00 PM: JJO Performance | All are invite to attend.

  • 8:45 PM-9:45 PM: Jam session with TYJE students.

  • 11:00 PM:  Lights Out​​​​

Thursday 4/30 — EE Welcome Day 👍

  • Downtime:  Breakfast/Lunch Nearby.

    • Make sure to eat before the call time. This is a long day—dinner is not until 6:15 PM.

    • ​See Cheap Eats list on Map.

  • 12:00 PM: Call time. Meet in hotel lobby.

    • ​Wear your EE-JJO shirts!​

      • Kahlil Childs, Miles Dixon, Luca Posillico - Bring your instruments! 

      • Henry Hartnack - Bring your stickbag!

  • 12:10 PM: Walk to Jazz at Licncoln Center.

    • We will be walking as a group (JJO). Do NOT proceed without Gilbert!
       

  • Competition Schedule: ​Thursday’s events are available ONLY for students and directors. ➡️ Parents and Friends will be meeting at D.J. Reynalds to watch Thursday's events. Thank you to Brian Hartnack for putting this together.🙏​​

    • 12:30-12:50 PM: Registration (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

    • 1:00 PM: Cheer Tunnel (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

    • 1:30-3:00 PM: Q&A with Wynton Marsalis and JLCO (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

    • 3:15-4:30 PM: Section Masterclasses (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

      • Saxophones - VLS Recording Studio

      • Rhythm Section - Rose Stage

      • Trombones - Noble Classroom

      • Trumpets - Atrium

    • 4:45-5:45 PM: Free time - Report to Chaperones before running off!

    • 6:00 PM: Proceed to the Appel Room or Atrium for dinner.

      • ​Students sit at assigned tables by instrument. Dinner Seating Assignments will be distributed at registration in the Director Folder.​

    • 6:15-7:30 PM: Dinner with JLCO and mentors (students only)​

      • ​6:15-7:30 PM: Director's Meeing (Gilbert Only!)

    • 7:30-9:30 PM: Jam Sessions with students and JLCO (students only)

      • Kahlil Childs, Miles Dixon, Luca Posillico, Collier Keitany, Henry Hartnack ​

      • All bands are required to attend all Festival activities. This includes staying for the full Jam Session on Thursday evening.

  • 9:30 PM: Return to Hotel​

  • 11:00 PM:  Lights Out​​

​Friday 5/1 — EE Competition Day One 👏​

  • 7:30 AM: Wake up!

    • Eat before Call time/Rehearsal!

  • 9:30 AM: Call time in hotel lobby.

    • Bring insruments!​

  • 9:40 AM: ​Walk to Jazz at Licncoln Center.

    • We will be walking as a group (JJO). Do NOT proceed without Gilbert!

  • 10:00-10:15 AM: ​Check in (5th floor) (JJO & Official  Chaperones).
     

  • Competition Schedule:​

    • 10:30 AM-11:45 AM: JJO Rehearsal (VLS Recording Studio) (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

    • 12:00-12:15 PM: Instruments to storage (6th floor south hallway). Proceed to Rose Theater and take your seats.

    • 12:30-3:00 PM: Competition Part 1 (6 bands perform). (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

    • 3:00-4:00 PM: Lunch Break (Lunch not provided, use your debit cards).

    • 4:00-6:30 PM: Competition Part 2 (6 bands perform). (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

  • 6:30 PM-8:30 PM: Downtime 

  • 8:30 PM: Return to Hotel.

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

​​​​

Saturday 5/2 — EE Performance Day! 🔥

  • 7:30 AM: Wake up!

    • Get dressed for the performance!​

    • Get a quick bite to eat (if you have time).

  • 8:45 AM: Call time in hotel lobby.

    • Bring insruments!

  • 9:00 AM: Walk to Jazz at Licncoln Center.

    • We will be walking as a group (JJO). Do NOT proceed without Gilbert!

  • 9:15 AM: Check in (5th floor)  (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

    • Take instruments directly to instrument storage.​

  • 9:30 AM-9:45: Take your seats in Rose Theater.​
     

  • Competition Schedule:

    • 10:00 AM-11:30 AM: Competition Part 3 (four bands perform in Rose). (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

    • 11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Lunch.

    • 12:30 PM: Call time (Atrium).

      • Pick up instruments and wait in the Atrium until warm-up time (1:10 PM).​

    • 1:00-2:30 PM: Competition Part 4 (JJO PERFORMS).​

      • Young Lions Jazz Conservatory (San Diego, CA).

        • 1:10 PM:  Warm Up (Varis and Leichtman Studio)

        • 1:40 PM: Backstage (DO NOT BE LATE)

        • 1:50-2:10 PM: Performance Time

        • 2:10 PM: Take a band photo in the Atrium, return instruments to storage and proceed to Rose Theater and listen to the remaining bands.

    • 2:30 PM-3:15 PM: Free Time/Merch Booths (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

    • 3:15 PM-3:50 PM: JLCO Meet & Greet/Autograph Signing (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

    • 4:00 PM: Announcement of 3 top-placing bands (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

      • IF we are top 3 (see below)​

        • 5:00 PM: Dinner for top 3.​

        • 5:45 PM-6:45 PM: Band rehearsals for top 3.

    • 4:45 PM-5:30 PM: Get your instruments from storage and take them back to hotel (JJO & Official  Chaperones).
    • 5:30 PM-6:50 PM: Downtime 

    • 7:00 PM-7:15 PM: House Opens - Return to seats.

      ​7:30 PM: Final Concert and Awards Ceremony (JJO & Official  Chaperones).

      • 7:30 PM: Top 3 perform.​

      • 8:35 PM: JLCO Performance.

      • 9:15 PM: Recognition of all bands and directors, introduction of judges and presentation of awards.

  • EE Concludes (10:15 PM-ish): Return to Hotel.

    • Pack for flight tomorrow!

  • 11:00 PM:  Lights Out.​​
    ​

Sunday 5/3 — Flight home ✈️

​​​

  • 5:00 AM: Wake up!

  • ​6:00 AM: Meet in the lobby DO NOT BE LATE

  • 6:30 AM:  Charter bus pickup

  • 8:00 AM:  Check-in to flight 
    • ​NY-Kennedy, NY (JFK) to San Diego, CA (SAN)
    • Date: May 03, 2026

    • 9:35 AM: Departure

    • 12:48 PM: Arrival in SD

FOR PAST UPDATES PLEASE SCROLL ⬇️

 IMPORTANT: Gift Card Usage Info — NYC Trip

  • ️ Our gift cards do NOT have a chip.

  • When paying at a business, let them know it is a gift card and ask them to SWIPE it using the magnetic stripe.

  • ​ Tap to pay will NOT work with these cards.

  • ️ If the stripe is not swiped, the payment will not go through.


Subway / Omny Card Info:

  • ️ Gift cards cannot be used directly for tap-to-pay on the subway.

  • When we arrive at the subway station, students planning to use their gift card will need to purchase an Omny card at the machine.

FLIGHT CHECK IN:

You may check in via desktop only at alaskaair.com. 

​

➡️ENTER YOUR LAST NAME

➡️ENTER CONFIRMATION CODE: QENDAM

​

  • If you experience issues paying for a checked bag online, simply bring it to the counter (Monday).

  • Please note that the Alaska mobile application and mobile website do not support group reservations.

  • Your boarding pass can be printed 24 hours prior to your scheduled departure.

​​PERFORMANCE ATTIRE

Men

  • Black suit

  • White dress shirt

  • Black dress shoes

  • Blue tie and pocket square (link below)

  • Note: The flower accent is optional for anyone who would like one.

  • 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

  • PURCHASE Blue Scarf (Optional) ($6.00

🏨 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

​​​​​​​Tickets for Essentially Ellington Competition 

Tickets are now on sale for Essentially Ellington.

  • If you purchased through YLJC, tickets have been confirmed and we'll be receiving  all of our requested tickets. We will have updates soon.

  • JJO performs Saturday, May 2 – 1:00 PM.

  • The link below is also for live streaming of all EE events and performances. The live stream is free.

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

​

UPDATES FOR PARENTS

​​

  • EE TICKETS PURCHASED FROM YLJC:
    ➡️ Tickets can be picked up in the classroom Sunday @ 6:30 PM.
    ➡️ If you're unable to make it, tickets will be sent home with your student after rehearsal.

​

  • ​EE-JJO T-SHIRTS FOR SALE

    • A few extra are available available — $21 each.​

    • T-Shirts can be picked up in the classroom Sunday @ 6:30 PM

    • ORDER (click size below):

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​​

  • 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 on site. 

  • Wednesday

    • JJO Performace at Park Central Hotel (see itinerary)
      ​​​

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

    • Parents and Friends will be meeting at D.J. Reynalds to watch Thursday's events. Thank you to Brian Hartnack for putting this together. 🙏
      ​

  • Friday & Saturday: Tickets are now on sale.​​​​

    • JJO performs Saturday, May 2 – 1:00 PM.

QUESITIONS?

  • Please email info@yljc.org

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© 2026 Young Lions Jazz Conservatory. All Rights Reserved.
Young Lions Jazz Conservatory is a 501(C) (3) Nonprofit EIN: 82-1899094

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