On January 17–18, 2026, the Eastman Jazz Orchestra (EJO), led by Director Christine Jensen, joined nine other ensembles from university jazz programs across the country to compete in the 2026 National Collegiate Jazz Championship at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The two-day invitational competition recognizes the next generation of jazz musicians.

Eastman Jazz Combo

Launched in 2020, the National Collegiate Jazz Championship provides ensembles with a forum for celebrating excellence and achievement. Participating bands were judged by a panel of leading jazz performers, composers, and educators, including acclaimed saxophonist and Eastman alumna Alexa Tarantino ’14E, a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis presented the awards to the winning ensembles. “Thank you for joining us, again, for the National Collegiate Jazz Championship. I’m proud of all of you, and it’s a pleasure to be here to congratulate all of you tonight,” said Marsalis, a nine-time Grammy-winning trumpeter. “In this competition, it doesn’t matter where you place. What matters are the experiences and the friendships made. We hope you have enjoyed being in The House of Swing. Your feeling and participation make it better. That’s why we built it.”

Current master’s student of jazz bass Brendan Nie shares that this opportunity is one he’ll never forget. “It was surreal to step onto that stage, not only as a performer but also as an arranger and writer. 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.” 

The Eastman Jazz Combo received honorable mention in Combo Performance, while several Eastman students earned individual awards:

• Brendan Nie, Honorable Mention Bass and Honorable Mention Combo Arrangement
• Reyna Machado, Honorable Mention Drums
• Eric Paige, Honorable Mention Soprano Saxophone
• Ian Oliver, Honorable Mention Tenor Saxophone
• Felix Schneider, Honorable Mention Trumpet
• Dan Atkinson, Outstanding Trombone
• Camilo Baracaldo, Honorable Mention Big Band Arrangement for “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To”

Prior to their performance, the Eastman Jazz Orchestra participated in a workshop with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra pianist Dan Nimmer, who has performed with the orchestra for more than 20 years.

EJO with JLCO pianist Dan Nimmer

“Thank you to Wynton Marsalis and everyone at Jazz at Lincoln Center who recognized Eastman as a top jazz program in the country,” says EJO director and three-time JUNO award-winner Christine Jensen. “It was an honor to participate in this year’s competition with my students who performed beautiful and meaningful music at the highest level. Each and every one of them rose up and beyond at this event, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Interested in studying jazz at Eastman? Visit our department page to learn more!