PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Temple University Jazz Band is celebrating a major win, taking first place in the 2026 National Collegiate Jazz Championship last week.
The ensemble beat out top programs from across the country, including New York City’s acclaimed Juilliard School.
“After I heard the bands, I said to my wife, ‘These bands are really good. I’ll be happy with third place,’” recalled Terell Stafford, director of jazz studies at Temple University.
He said the victory is the result of months of demanding rehearsals from fairly new musicians; about half of the band graduated last year.
“The rhythm section is different. Saxophone’s all new. Trombone is pretty much all new,” he said. “After we performed, at least 50 kids were like, ‘I’m applying to Temple, I’m applying to Temple.’ So it helps with enrollment. It helps with everything.”
This is the band’s first national victory since 2020 and the second in the school’s history.