TROY – Two Troy University jazz bands took top honors at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Jazz Festival in Birmingham.

The Troy University Jazz Ensemble I, directed by Bryden Atwater, and the Troy University Jazz Combo, directed by Raymond H. Smith, both captured the Festival’s top award, being named the Hazz Ensemble of Distinction and the Jazz Combo of Distinction respectively.

According to TROY Director of Bands Ralph Ford, the ensembles made the appearance during a two-day recruiting tour through central Alabama, during which the ensembles performed before some 800 high school students.

In addition to the ensemble awards, TROY saxophonist LaRoy Bodiford, a sophomore music education major from Troy, was named Soloist of Distinction.

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