1997 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Trumpet Competition

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

1996 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Saxophone Competition

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

1995 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Guitar and Bass Competitions

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

1994 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Vocals Competition

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

1993 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition

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

1992 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Drums Competition

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

1991 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Saxophone Competition

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

1990 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Trumpet Competition (Louis Armstrong International Jazz Trumpet Competition)

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

1989 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition

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

1988 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International 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