Mountlake Terrace High School jazz band prepares for national stage

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 1, 2026

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Sounds of brass and percussion filled Room 231 at Mountlake Terrace High School on Monday afternoon.

The Mountlake Terrace Jazz Ensemble was taking in lessons from guest instructor Francisco Torres, a trombonist who has played for many famous artists and films.

“When you’re doing a solo, think about having a conversation,” Torres told one student. “It’s okay to take a breath, because you’re talking with either the drums or guitar or piano.”

The band was preparing for the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival in New York City. On April 30, the band will perform in the competition put on by Jazz at Lincoln Center honoring the music and legacy of Duke Ellington.

Mountlake Terrace is one of just 20 schools invited out of 119 nationwide. Bothell High School and Shorewood High School in Shoreline will also compete at the festival.

This is the 11th time Mountlake Terrace has been invited to play at Ellington, and it’s the second year in a row. The school came in third place in 2005 and 2011 and received an honorable mention in 2002.

“When I was seven, I’d be watching videos of Ellington and seeing people perform there,” said Michael Brady, a sophomore trumpet player. “I wanted to perform there so badly one day. The feeling of getting to go there and getting to play in my dream theater is surreal.”

Darin Faul has been the director of the Mountlake Terrace jazz band for 28 years. He said he was initially surprised that the band was selected for the festival this year since it’s a young group.

“Once we got over the surprise, it’s really exciting,” Faul said. “I got pretty excited for the longevity of the program and how that will benefit us over time.”

This will be the second time performing at Ellington for senior Wyatt Gutting. As a trombone player, he said the workshop from Torres was especially useful.

“He has many techniques and approaches to playing that I haven’t heard before,” Gutting said. “So it’s special for me to be able to learn from that.”

For 12 years, Torres has served as the musical director, producer and arranger for Poncho Sanchez, a Grammy-winning percussionist. He has played with Arturo Sandoval, Santana, Aretha Franklin and several other famous musicians. He said he loves teaching students because of the “aha moment” they experience when they realize a small tweak can make them sound like the recording.

“This is a really fine band,” Torres said. “I want to just give them that small push.”

In 2023, Mountlake Terrace High School lost multiple music classes due to district budget cuts. Faul lost his second jazz band, he said, and was assigned other classes.

“In spite of that, we’re just continuing to work,” Faul said. “What could we do if we were actually supported, if the district was behind us and not an impediment to our success? … That would be a game changer.”

Looking forward to the competition, students said they are eager to explore New York City and showcase their work on a national stage.

“We all have a great friendship within the band,” said Owen Smith, a senior who plays alto and soprano saxophone. “I’m very excited to play at Jazz at Lincoln Center and play with my band and have a good time.”

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.