In January 2026, the Eastman Jazz Orchestra (EJO), directed by three-time JUNO award-winner Christine Jensen, headed to Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) to compete in the 2026 National Collegiate Jazz Championship! The EJO was deemed one of the top ten university jazz ensembles from across the country and invited to take part in the two-day competition, which highlights the next generation of jazz musicians.

Many Eastman students were recognized for their exemplary performances, one of whom is master’s student of jazz bass Brendan Nie, who hails from Ottawa, Canada and owns one of the coolest double basses we’ve ever seen (check out that dragon scroll!).

We asked Brendan to recount what this weekend meant to him. Read on to hear about the experience, in his words.

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ON PERFORMING AT JALC

I’ve been an admirer of Jazz at Lincoln Center for almost the entirety of my journey as a jazz musician. I have always recognized that their orchestra is assembled with the best musicians on their instrument, and that the Rose Theater is reserved for the best performances in the genre. So, as someone who has seen that stage appear in every JALC Orchestra video I have ever watched, and as a longtime admirer of many of the players in that band, it was almost surreal being able to step onto that stage myself—not only as a performer but as an arranger and writer, as well.

For a moment it felt like the physical manifestation of all of the hard work and love that I have poured into this music and my progression as a musician. Performing the music that I love will always be a privilege to me but to be able to stand on the same stage as one of the best jazz orchestras in the world, alongside many of my dear friends from school, is an opportunity that I will never forget.

ON EASTMAN

Performing at JALC made me very grateful for all the experiences I have had at Eastman. When I was accepted here, I already knew that this school produced some of the most recognized musicians—both in and outside my field of study—whom I was aware of well before beginning my undergraduate studies. With that in mind, I knew that continuing my education here would challenge me and provide skills that would stay with me for the rest of my musical life.

However, what I didn’t expect was the number of opportunities that this school has provided me in all aspects—from meeting extraordinary guest artists and learning one-on-one with them to participating in high-level performances with my school, like this JALC trip! In my previous experiences, forming connections with high-level musicians and recognized artists had always been a goal, but it seemed too far on the horizon to be able to fully experience… It was just something else I had to work towards in order to be a part of.

But at Eastman, beyond my extensive growth as a musician, those experiences now seem completely tangible and possible for me to achieve. Every new opportunity that arises here at the school feels like an open door that will lead to a higher level of knowledge and appreciation for the music I make and dedicate myself to. To be able to be a part of a jazz program like Eastman’s is already a great privilege to me, but being able to fully engage with the opportunities this program provides is an honor.

ON COMMUNITY

One of the best parts of an unforgettable weekend in New York City was getting to perform the music that I love with some of my closest friends I’ve made since being at Eastman. It was an everlasting reminder that music creates community. On top of all of that, the encouragement that I’ve received from the faculty and professors in the program has been essential for me throughout the competition. Being able to apply the things they have taught me and see the payoff in real time has made me deeply appreciate my studies with them and the growth that resulted. Having the opportunity to perform on one of the best jazz stages in the world was already amazing, but having the community that Eastman has provided alongside me made the whole experience far more rewarding than I could have imagined.

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