Ollie Liddell Leads Memphis Central Jazz Band to Historic Global Victory at Lincoln Center
Liddell Led a 2025 TAA Winter Retreat Interlude
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2025 Virtual Winter Retreat Interlude presenter Ollie Liddell continues to demonstrate the power of visionary leadership in music education. As director of the Memphis Central High School Jazz Band, Liddell led his students to a first-place win at the Essentially Ellington International High School Jazz Band Competition, held at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The win, announced on Mother’s Day 2025, marked a milestone not only for Central High, but for music programs across the country — and the world.
Essentially Ellington is Jazz at Lincoln Center’s longest-running and farthest-reaching educational initiative, with over 1 million student participants in its 30-year history. Each year, hundreds of high school jazz bands from around the globe audition; only 30 are invited to perform live in New York. Central High’s 2025 selection marked their third invitation, but their first in-person appearance after virtual events in 2020 and 2021.
After advancing through the semifinals, Central was named one of three finalists. Their final performance, held at the Metropolitan Opera House, featured them alongside the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, with feedback from jazz icon Wynton Marsalis. Competing against top groups from the U.S. and abroad — including a standout band from Barcelona, Spain — Central emerged as the international champion, earning standing ovations and widespread acclaim.
A two-time Country Music Association Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence award recipient (2022, 2024), Liddell has long been celebrated for his dedication to youth, community, and excellence in music education. His leadership of the Central High Jazz Band is yet another example of his lasting impact — locally, nationally, and globally. During his presentation at TAA’s 2025 Virtual Winter Retreat, attendees saw firsthand the passion and purpose that fuel his work. Now, with an international title to his name, Liddell stands as a model of what’s possible when talent meets vision.
“When you carry your instrument, it will carry you.”
“When you carry your instrument, it will carry you.”
Throughout the years, students across Kentucky have been fortunate enough to have experienced that motto and the fierce and fabulous voice behind it. Linda Pulley leads young people down a pathway that inspires them to achieve musical excellence. Pulley’s successes in the band room have resulted in being a recipient of the 2011 Grammy Signature School Enterprise Award with the Iroquois High School Band, 2024 KMEA Conference performance with the Noe Middle School Jazz Band, and having the Noe Middle School Symphonic Band and Jazz Band be selected to perform at the 2025 MBDNA National Concert and Jazz Band Invitational. Linda Pulley is currently serving her 19th year as a band director in Jefferson County Public Schools (Iroquois High School, 2005-2020 and Noe Middle School, 2020 – present) both in Louisville, Kentucky. – Heather Dipasquale. Read the entire conversation here
2024 National ASBDA Honor Band
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