The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Jazz Ensemble will perform at Lincoln Center in New York City during the debut of the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship, a two-day invitational band competition. 

The event, which takes place on Jan. 18-19, 2020, will feature sets from 10 ensembles chosen from among prominent university jazz programs in the country. NCCU is the only historically black college and university (HBCU) represented. The Jack Rudin competition is expected to become an annual event.