Backstage, before the Bob Washington Jazz Scholarship finalists took the stage to perform, they were discussing amongst themselves.
The high school and college students talked about their different music departments or their musical experiences in between warming up their instruments.
“What I really find cool is the fact there’s not a lot of competitiveness other than what’s on the stage when they play the music,” President of the Jazz Lovers Club, Walter Griffith, said. “They’re in this together. It’s really neat to see how music brings people together rather than separate them.”
The finals were held in front of a crowd of roughly 120 people at the Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Complex on June 27.
The scholarship committee — Dave Flanigan, Dave Czohara and Lanny Austin — selected eight finalists from 11 applicants.
Each of the musicians performed a ballad and an untempo piece that let them improvise at times.
Rick Steuart on piano, Greg Zabel on bass and Dave Rudolph on drums accompanied them. Zabel had previously received a scholarship.
“Our membership sees the result of their support,” said Griffith, of the Village of Poinciana. “This is a jazz musician who earns his money every day playing jazz and music for living.”
The judges — trumpeter Charlie Bertini, drummer Greg Parnell and clarinetist/saxophonist Jim Snyder — discussed for around 30 minutes after the finalists performed before announcing the victors.
Vibraphonist Ben Dunham took first place, winning $2,500; drummer Carson Degner took second place, winning $2,000; and trumpeter Joseph Shahady took third place, winning $1,750.
Dunham, a Tarpon Springs High School graduate, was the inaugural vibraphonist to compete in the scholarship finals.
“He had a good balance, a great sound,” Griffith said. “He just had masterful performances.”
Antonio Vergara, tenor saxophone, received $1,500; Quint Johnson, tenor saxophonist, won $1,250; trumpeter Luca Stine, won $1,000; guitarist Pablo Duque received $750; and tenor saxophonist Stephen Spahn won $500.
“The kids get better and better,” said Austin, of the Village of Springdale. “It’s just incredible the kind of playing young people are able to garner, even in high school.”
Before the event, the competitors met with the band for a few minutes to work over their songs.
“It was ‘How are we going to start?,’ ‘How are we going to stop?’ and ‘When do you break to do my thing?’” Griffith said. “That was pretty much it.”
After being changed last year owing to the shutdown, this was a comeback to live performances for the scholarship. The performances were cancelled, and the scholarship committee awarded $1,500 to each of the ten finalists.
“We didn’t want their efforts to be in vain.” Griffith said. “Everybody came out with something.”
When the committee started planning in January, the date was shifted from April to June.
“So many kids are really deserving of some extra help.” Austin said. “It’s nice that the Jazz Lovers Club still does this.”
Also at this year’s event, Showcase of Talent’s Diana and Joe Arit awarded the Jazz Lovers Club with a $5,000 scholarship donation.
“That was a nice way to cap the evening,” Griffith said.