FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEBRASKA JAZZ ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES WINNER OF THE 2005 YOUNG JAZZ ARTIST
COMPETITION
Contact: Alexis Berggren, Events Coordinator
402-477-8446

Lincoln, NE -- The Nebraska Jazz Orchestra has announced the first, second, and third place winners in the 2005 Young
Jazz Artist Competition. First place honors went to Jordan Elsberry, piano; finishing second place was Sean Jones,
percussion; and placing third was Jay Carlson, piano. Other finalists included Paul Krueger, trumpet; Elizabeth Love,
saxophone; and Dave Rosser, guitar.

The winner, Jordan Elsberry, receives a cash prize and the opportunity to perform with the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra at its
final concert of the 2004-2005 Season. The performance will take place Friday, May 13, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Embassy Suites Hotel, 1040 P Street, Lincoln. General admission tickets may be purchased at the concert or ordered in
advance by contacting the business office at Arts Incorporated, (402) 477-8446. Ticket
prices are: Adults $20, Seniors $17, Students $10. Priority seating for season ticket holders and Jazz Club members is at
7:00 p.m. General admission seating begins at 7:15 p.m. The Nebraska Jazz Orchestra will also hold a pre-concert dinner
at 6:00 p.m. with Music Director, Ed Love, and Jordan Elsberry offering a sneak peek into the evening’s program.
Advance reservations required.

Sponsors of the event include Nebraska Diamond, John & Laurie Tavlin, RBC Dain Rauscher, US Bank and the Nebraska
Arts Council.

Sean Jones, percussion, is currently a senior at Lincoln High School and is a member of the Lincoln
High Marching Band, Symphonic Band and Varsity Jazz Band. He routinely performs with the
Lincoln High School Orchestra, Concert Choir, and Jazz Choir. As a sophomore, Sean lettered in both
academics and instrumental music at Lincoln High School. He has been on the Honor Roll during all
semesters of his high school career.

Sean is a member of Lincoln Youth Symphony and has performed with the Lincoln Civic Orchestra,
Lincoln Municipal Band and Monday Night Big Band. Sean was selected to be a member of the
Nebraska Music Educator’s Association All-State Jazz Band, Nebraska Jazz Orchestra’s Young Lions
All-Star Big Band and Hastings Honor Band. He was also selected to participate in the 2005 UNL
Winter Winds Festival. Sean will begin a Jazz Studies Major at the University of North Texas this
fall.
Jordan Elsberry, piano, attended Fremont High School, where he played in the jazz band and led the
jazz combo. He is currently enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he is studying
creative writing and plays with the jazz band. As a member of the progressive jazz ensemble Unshut,
Jordan performs regularly in the Omaha area with Kevin Pike, John Kotchian, Luigi Waites, and
Chuck Kilgore. During high school, Jordan took informal jazz theory lessons from his father, Jim
Elsberry, at cafes and on long car trips. Jordan is currently studying jazz piano with Mark Misfeldt,
and has studied with Denver pianist Jeff Jenkins.

Jordan will perform three original works, “Björk”, “Friday, 12:36 p.m.”, and “Come in the Other
Room” with the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra. Jordan will also receive a $250.00 cash prize.
Jay Carlson, Alternate

Jay Carlson, piano, is a senior at Lincoln Southeast High School and the 2004 Nebraska Jazz
Orchestra Young Jazz Artist Competition runner up. Although Jay has never had formal piano
instruction, he has participated annually at the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra summer Jazz Camp and
attended the University of Kansas Jazz Workshop. A member of the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra’s
Young Lions All-Star Band for the past three years, Jay was also selected for the All-State Jazz
Band in his junior and senior year. Additionally, last year he was named Outstanding Soloist at the
Kansas University Jazz Festival.

Jay has volunteered as an entertainer for numerous nonprofit organizations in Lincoln and can be
seen regularly with the Monday Night Big Band. He will attend the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
in the fall, majoring in engineering.