PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Jazz and Mayor Linda Tyer honored the winners of the 12th annual student art contest on Tuesday morning.

 

The annual event is organized by art teacher Colleen Quinn at Pittsfield High School and asks students to create jazz-inspired pieces of work.

 

Sophia Nguyen took home this year's first prize, Megan Francoeur took home second, and Antonia Bedard Torres came in third.

 

"It is really a thrill to have our art teachers here today to help us celebrate this accomplishment. The artwork is remarkable," Tyer said.

 

The city also noted honorable mentions of Nolan Degrof, Jazlyn Rodriguez, Lynniah Falwell, Paige Webster, and Abby Cohan.

 

The work of more than 100 students has been hanging in the hallway of City Hall for the last few weeks. This year's judges included painters Marguerite Bride and Scott Taylor, and designer Tom Buckley.

 

The contest is intended to engage students in a "cross-genre creative activity" during the national Jazz Appreciation Month of April, according to Berkshire Jazz President Ed Bride. The contest is hoped to spread interest in jazz to the larger community.

 

National Jazz Appreciation month began by the Smithsonian Institution in 2002. Berkshire Jazz not only presents live jazz concerns but also promotes the musical genre. 

 

Art Niedeck, a jazz musician and music educator, and co-chairman of the Education Committee of Berkshires Jazz Inc., heads the project for Berkshire Jazz as well as helping to organize the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival.

 

The non-profit Berkshire Jazz is supported by ticket sales from the festival, as well as donations from individuals and sponsors, which this year include Greylock Federal Credit Union, the Feigenbaum Foundation, The Berkshire Bank Foundation, TD Bank, and the Banulis Family Foundation.