Alexa Mazure Captures Woody Herman Jazz Award
July 29, 2026
Alexa Mazure possesses an abundance of gifts and talents, including those that go along with being a skilled musician. The Huntington High School Class of 2026 member captured this year’s Woody Herman Jazz Award.
Ms. Mazure plans to pursue a degree in nursing at Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Inducted into Huntington’s National Honor Society chapter, the teenager excelled academically throughout high school in addition to being a standout musician. She also held membership in the Tri-M Music Honor Society, Art Honor Society and Social Studies Honor Society.
Huntington music teacher Dr. Jason Giachetti presented Ms. Mazure with her award during the Class of 2026’s academic departmental awards ceremony in the high school auditorium.
The Woody Herman Jazz Award was created in 1988 following the death of Mr. Herman a year earlier. It is given in high school’s across America to an outstanding graduating senior jazz band member “who has demonstrated dedication, loyalty, character and discipline to the jazz band program while achieving the highest musical standards required of instrumental music.”
Born in Milwaukee in 1913, Mr. Herman was a legendary saxophonist and clarinetist and the leader of one of the most popular jazz big bands. His music has been described as timeless and is still listened to throughout the world.
“I’ve enjoyed the music program the most through high school because it offers a safe and welcoming environment for everyone,” Ms. Mazure said. “It is also a way I de-stress from school by tuning out everything else and just focusing on playing my instrument.”
A Blue Devil marching band alto saxophone section leader, Distinguished Senior, president of the Gender & Sexuality Alliance and event coordinator with the anti-discrimination club known as A World of Difference, Ms. Mazure enjoyed a full and diversified high school experience.
