Sisters In Jazz Competition Deadline: Nov. 5

The International Association for Jazz Education’s annual Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Competition is all about getting more recognition directed toward women musicians who play jazz. Each year IAJE Sisters in Jazz selects a band’s worth of winners from the pool of applicants and sends them to the annual IAJE conference where they perform before the jazz industry pros. The group is also coached and mentored by leading musicians and other industry folk.

The competition is open to all female, full-time music student instrumentalists and singers over 19 who are also IAJE members. Students who have applied in the past, but have not yet been selected, are encouraged to apply again. The deadline for applications for this year’s competition is November 5, 2004.

Entrants must submit a CD or high-bias cassette tape, not exceeding 30 minutes in length, including the following styles (in the following order with 3-5 seconds of silence between selections):

A medium-tempo blues An up-tempo rhythm changes tune A Latin, rock, or funk tune A ballad An additional selection of the applicant’s choice

Entrants may be accompanied by a rhythm section, play-along recording, or both.

Links to program info and downloadable application are below. APPLICATION AND GUIDELINES: http://iaje.org/projects.asp#sij PROGRAM INFORMATION AND HISTORY: http://iaje.org/article.asp?ArticleID=34

A quintet will be chosen to perform at the annual IAJE conference in Long Beach, California (January 5-8, 2005). Roundtrip airfare, accommodations, and a meal stipend are provided. Past winners have also performed at the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and at major European festival venues.

The IAJE Sisters in Jazz program was designed to promote and encourage the participation of women in jazz, through mentorship, performance opportunities, and education. The annual Collegiate Competition has become emblematic of its progress, with many past winners going on to successful careers in the field.

Originally Published October 9, 2004