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| The FAMU Jazz Ensemble |
FAMU's Department of Music dominated the spotlight this past weekend with two landmark achievements: the FAMU Jazz Ensemble claimed victory at the prestigious 2025 Jazz at Lincoln Center & Virginia Arts Festival HBCU Residency, while members of the FAMU Marching 100 made their electrifying Coachella debut alongside Travis Scott.
Under director Robert Griffin, the Jazz Ensemble claimed seven category wins, including Best Ensemble, Best Rhythm Section, and top honors for saxophone, trombone, and trumpet sections. Individually, guitarist Matias Quiceno, clarinetist Kaden Neighbors, and trombonist Gamaliel Harris earned Outstanding Musician awards—with Harris also snagging the festival’s Overall Outstanding Soloist title.
The FAMU Jazz Ensemble outperformed 12 rival HBCU ensembles —including North Carolina A&T, Grambling State, Jackson State, and Norfolk State—in an adjudicated competition. The win earned the FAMU ensemble the honor of opening for jazz icon Wynton Marsalis and the Grammy-winning Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) during the festival’s finale in Chrysler Hall, with FAMU Jazz Ensemble lead trombonist Vincent Gardner joining as guest soloist, the ensemble’s fiery performance of “Blue Skies” and a reimagined “Take the A Train” brought the audience to its feet, earning a roaring standing ovation.
“This isn’t just a win—it’s a revelation,” said Griffin. “From rhythm section to brass, every student embodied excellence.” Marsalis, who mentored students during the residency, added: “When you hear FAMU play, you hear jazz’s past, present, and future in perfect harmony.”
The three-day residency, a groundbreaking partnership between Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Virginia Arts Festival, blended education and performance. Students participated in masterclasses with Marsalis—a nine-time GRAMMY winner, Pulitzer Prize recipient, and National Medal of Arts honoree—and members of the JLCO, renowned as one of the world’s premier jazz orchestras. The festival culminated in a concert where top ensembles showcased their artistry in the first half, followed by a fiery second-half set by Marsalis’s 15-piece ensemble.
“This residency is about passing the torch,” said Marsalis, who praised the students’ “depth of artistry and dedication.” FAMU’s winning performance, described by judges as “technically flawless and emotionally resonant,” secured their opening slot for the JLCO. Their set included jazz standards and modern arrangements, highlighting the ensemble’s dynamic range under Griffin’s leadership.
Competing schools delivered standout performances, but FAMU’s precision and creativity set them apart. “This win isn’t just for us; it’s a testament to the legacy of HBCUs in shaping jazz history,” Griffin said post-show.
The collaboration marks a growing emphasis on elevating HBCU talent within major arts institutions. As audiences cheered FAMU’s triumph and Marsalis’s soaring solos, the message was clear: the future of jazz is in capable hands.