The 6th Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition is currently open for applications. Sponsored by the Blues Alley Jazz Society, the competition’s contestants will vie to be one of five finalists who will perform before a panel of judges at Washington, D.C.’s Blues Alley during the week of April 23-27, 2023.
The 2023 judging panel includes celebrity judge Jane Monheit. Other judges are still to be determined.
The jazz vocal contest was created in 2017 to coincide with the legendary singer’s centennial, and is meant as a spotlight both for new talent and for Fitzgerald. The competition each year highlights a classic album from her discography, asking contestants to choose songs from that year’s album for their auditions and final performances.
2023’s album selection is Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook (familiarly known as Ella Sings Ellington), a 1957 recording on which the composer and his orchestra accompanied Fitzgerald on Ellington’s repertoire.
Applicants are asked to submit three song selections for their initial audition. These applicants will then be winnowed to five finalists, who will be required to perform on both audio and video for the final competition. All entries must be submitted by January 31, 2023.
Visit the Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition’s website for further information.
