Tyee Middle School from Bellevue, Washington, was named the junior sweepstakes winner of the Young Artist’s Winners Concert Thursday at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.
The junior division of the competition featured two choir and band performances from elementary and middle schools in Idaho and Washington.
Tyee Band Director Scott Backus said it had been five years since the school’s last appearance at the Jazz Fest, so he was honored to be one of this year’s winner.
“It has been such an awesome treat to just be at the festival and winning tonight has only sweetened it further,” Backus said. “I am incredibly proud of my students for their effort and hard work today — they definitely earned this trophy.”
The next Young Artist’s Winners Concert will take place at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the Kibbie Dome, and will feature performances from high school students.
Olivia Heersink can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @heersinkolivia