The Michigan State University Jazz Studies program placed second in the nation in the 2026 National Collegiate Jazz Championship with more than 20 MSU musicians earning individual honors.

The two-day invitational competition, held throughout Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Jan. 17 and 18, aims to celebrate the excellence and achievements of the next generation of jazz musicians.

This was MSU’s fourth time competing in the championship. MSU Jazz Studies has placed in the top three each time with one first-place finish in 2022. Second place in 2026 earned a $7,500 award for the program. Temple University, led by Terell Stafford, and Huston-Tillotson University, led by Jeremy George, placed first and third, respectively.

Director of Jazz Studies at MSU and University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass Rodney Whitaker had students in Jazz Orchestra 1 (the Bebop Spartans) well-prepared, and Associate Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of Jazz Guitar Randy Napoleon guided MSU Jazz Nonet 1 for the combo portion of the competition. Associate Professor of Vocal Jazz Carmen Bradford traveled to New York, as well, given that it was the first time MSU performed in the competition with a vocalist.

MSU jazz students brought high energy and anticipation from the beginning of their trip to New York. The ensembles played extremely well, and the enthusiasm shown by musicians from other schools during MSU performances served as great evidence of the skill Spartan jazz bands displayed. In fact, the young musicians from MSU were fighting so hard for first place that the second-place finish left a few of them disappointed. Jazz at Lincoln Center Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis tried to put those thoughts to rest as he spoke at the awards ceremony to close the weekend.