The Garfield Jazz Ensemble has won every major competition on the west coast of the United States. In February 2017, it was named the “Outstanding Festival Band” at the prestigious Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival for an unprecedented eighth time. In 2011, it was named the ‘Outstanding Instrumental Ensemble’ at the Reno Jazz Festival for a record four times. It is also a ‘four time’ winner of the Essentially Ellington National Jazz Band Competition & Festival, held in New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center. It is the only jazz band in the nation to accomplish this feat.