Tallahassee Community College’s 24th Annual Cherry Hall Alexander African American History Calendar honors jazz luminary and FAMU faculty member Lindsey Sarjeant with the TCC President’s Award.
The award was presented Monday at the president’s luncheon in TCC’s workplace development building.
Sarjeant is chairman of the Music Department at FAMU and former director of jazz studies at the university. He has been recognized for his notable arrangements for the legendary Marching 100 for over 48 years.
The music educator also established the FAMU Jazz Ensemble in 1996. The acclaimed writer has been considered the country’s No. 1 HBCU marching band arranger. The prolific pianist played professionally overseas and has shared the stage with other jazz legends, including Wynton Marsalis and Nat Adderly.
According to the calendar committee, this year’s calendar champions individuals who work to preserve history and empower the community through artistic and cultural expression fields with the theme “African Americans and the Arts.”
When sharing how Sarjeant’s legacy demonstrates this year’s theme, the calendar founder, Cherry Hall Alexander, said, “He reflects this in every aspect. The theme depicts exactly what Lindsey Sarjeant does. He does all of it. He has so many accomplishments, you know, abroad; all of those things. So, with that being said, he is the epitome.”
This will be the 24th year the calendar has featured the TCC President’s Award.
Hall highlighted that her vision was achieved through celebrating Sarjeant and the extensive presence of African Americans in the arts.
“That’s why I started it so these young people can dream. My vision was for our young people, especially African Americans, to see what others are doing and know that they can do it too,” Hall said.
Sarjeant beamed with gratitude during the tribute. “I feel very honored. You know, sometimes you do things, and you just never know how it’s perceived, but when you’re recognized for the quality of your work, it’s always a very good feeling.”
Even after the accolades and tributes, the Florida A&M alumnus seeks to surpass the scope of his career as he seeks to revitalize the sound of jazz in an evolving music landscape.
“I don’t look at it in terms of legacy because I’m still continuing,” Sarjeant said. “My legacy is still yet to be done.”
Sarjeant was not the only member of the FAMU Music Department to be featured in this year’s calendar. He is joined by Longineu Parsons, a trumpeter and professor, and Shelby Chipman, director of the marching band.