WRENTHAM - King Philip Regional High School's Jazz Combo I was named the winner for non-specialized schools in the first annual Charles Mingus High School Jazz Band Competition.

New York City's Manhattan School of Music Precollege Combo was named the winner in the performing arts high school category.

The King Philip combo, under the direction of Peter Levesque and Peter Tileston, also won honors for outstanding soloists with Chris Palmer on trombone and Gina Giacalone on bass. Five high school combos and five high school big bands were selected through pre-screening, from more than 60 submissions from throughout the Northeast.

Winning top honors for best big band was the Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Howard Potter, from Rochester, N.Y. In addition, awards were given for outstanding big band section, outstanding soloists and outstanding combo arrangement.

Next year's competition will be expanded to include high schools nationwide. The competition was part of a three-day tribute to Charles Mingus that was held Feb. 20-22 at the Manhattan School of Music.

Sue Mingus, director of Let My Children Hear Music, and Justin DiCioccio, assistant dean and chairman of the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Arts Program, were the event's producers.

Members of the winning King Philip combo are Dahnyoung McGarry, clarinet; Steven Linscott, alto saxophone; Alex Hurth, tenor saxophone; Andy St. Jean, trumpet; Chris Palmer, trombone; Victoria Mariconti, piano; Davis Mckee, guitar; Gina Giacalone, bass, and Ian Wudyka and Mike Hogan, drums.

King Philip's larger jazz ensemble was named honorable mention in the 2007 Essentially Ellington high school jazz band competition.