When Christopher Brellochs started as the dean of SUNY Schenectady County Community College’s School of Music in May 2021, one of his goals was to address the jazz-shaped void left after former dean Bill Meckley retired and the Empire Jazz Orchestra disappeared.  One way was for the college to sponsor a high school jazz competition. Brelloch sees it as a way for SCCC to reengage with the Capital Region’s jazz community and hopefully expand it, even if the entrants aren’t planning on working in the music industry.