Smithsonian Institution’s Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC
First Place: Darren Barrett, Canada
Second Place: Diego Urcola, Argentina
Third Place: Avishai Cohen, Israel
Finalists: Matt Shulman, Vermont and John Sneider, Massachusetts
Judges:
Randy Brecker
Jon Faddis
Art Farmer
Wallace Roney
Arturo Sandoval
Composers Competition Winner: Jack Perla, California
Photo (l-r): 1997 Trumpet Competition winners Diego Urcola, Avishai Cohen, Darren Barrett, Matt Shulman and John Sneider
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, DC
First Place: Jon Gordon, New York
Second Place: Jimmy Greene, Connecticut
Third Place: John Wojciechowski, Michigan
Judges:
Jimmy Heath
Joe Lovano
Jackie McLean
Joshua Redman
Wayne Shorter
Composers Competition Winner: Michiel Borstlap, The Netherlands
Photo (l-r): Judges and winners of the 1996 Saxophone Competition Joshua Redman, Joe Lovano, John Wojciechowski, Jimmy Greene, Jon Gordon, Jackie McLean, Wayne Shorter and Jimmy Heath
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, DC
Guitar
First Place: Jesse van Ruller, The Netherlands
Second Place: Paul Pieper, Virginia
Third Place: Sheryl Bailey, Maryland
Judges:
Jim Hall
Pat Martino
Pat Metheny
John Scofield
Mark Whitfield
Bass
First Place: Darryl Hall, Philadelphia
Second Place: Thomas Baldwin, Maryland
Third Place: Martin Wind, Germany
Judges:
Ron Carter
Charlie Haden
Percy Heath
Milt Hinton
Christian McBride
Composers Competition Winner: Anthony Wilson, California
Photo: 1995 Competition winners (seated): bassist Darryl Hall; guitarist Jesse van Ruller; (standing l-r) guitarists Paul Piper & Sheryl Bailey — bassists Martin Wind & Tom Baldwin and Billy Dee Williams
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, DC
First Place: Sara Lazarus, Delaware
Second Place: Lisa Henry, Kansas
Third Place: Carolyn Leonhart, New York
Judges:
Jon Hendricks
Shirley Horne
Cleo Laine
Abbey Lincoln
Dianne Reeves
Jimmy Scott
Composers Competition Winner: Steven Grover, Maine
Photo (l-r): 1994 Vocal Competition winners Sara Lazarus, Carolyn Leonhart and Lisa Henry
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, DC
First Place: Jacky Terrasson, France
Second Place: Peter Martin, New York
Third Place: Edward Simon, Venezuela
Judges:
Muhal Richard Abrams
Dave Brubeck
Dorothy Donegan
Herbie Hancock
Marian McPartland
Marcus Roberts
The 1993 Competition featured the presentation of the Maria Fisher Founder’s Award to Benny Carter
Composers Competition Winner: Pat Zimmerli, New York
Photo (l-r): 1993 Piano Competition winners Jacky Terrasson, Edward Simon and Peter Martin
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
First Place: Harold Summey, Washington, DC
Second Place: Jorge Rossy, Spain
Third Place: Tony Jefferson, Florida and Alvester Garnett, Virginia
Judges:
Alan Dawson
Roy Haynes
Ed Shaugnessy
Jeff “Tain” Watts
Dave Weckl
Photo: Institute Honorary Chairman Bill Cosby jokes with 1992 drums competition winner Harold Summey by only giving him half of his prize check
Smithsonian Institution’s Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC
First Place: Joshua Redman, California
Second Place: Eric Alexander, New York
Third Place: Chris Potter, New York and Tim Warfield, Pennsylvania
Judges:
Benny Carter
Jimmy Heath
Branford Marsalis
Jackie McLean
Frank Wess
Photo: Joshua Redman (center), winner of the 1991 Saxophone Competition joined by (l to r): Thelonious Monk, Jr., Benny Carter, Jimmy Heath, Jackie McLean and Clark Terry
Smithsonian Institution’s Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC
First Place: Ryan Kisor, Iowa
Second Place: Tom Williams, Maryland
Third Place: Greg Gisbert, New York
Judges:
Nat Adderley
Red Rodney
Clark Terry
Eugene “Snooky” Young
Photo: Ryan Kisor (center), first place winner of 1990 trumpet competition, joined by judges (l to r): Clark Terry, Nat Adderley, Red Rodney, Snookie Young
Smithsonian Institution’s Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC
First Place: Bill Cunliffe, California
Second Place: Michael Weiss, New York
Third Place: Edward Hobizal, Texas
Judges:
Walter Bishop, Jr.
Hal Galper
Barry Harris
Ahmad Jamal
Horace Silver
Photo: Nellie Monk joins first place winner Bill Cunliffe on stage at the 1989 Piano Competition
Smithsonian Institution’s Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC
First Place: Ted Rosenthal, New York
Second Place: Harry Appelman, Washington, DC
Third Place: Matt Cooper, Oregon and Azizza Mustafa-Zade, Azerbaijan
Judges:
Tommy Flanagan
Sir Roland Hanna
Barry Harris
Hank Jones
Roger Kellaway
Photo: Maria Fisher congratulates first place winner Ted Rosenthal at 1988 piano competition