Nearly four decades after the idea was created in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a long-awaited program is finally coming to life. After many years of hard work and overcoming countless obstacles, the Jazz Composition Competition will be officially released this summer!
The Jazz Composition Competition invites brothers, both active and alumni, to showcase their musical talents by submitting their original jazz compositions. Initially, the competition will be open to compositions suited for jazz combos and trios, but there are plans to expand to larger groups in the future.
Once the Jazz Composition Competition has been officially released, the submission deadline will be set for January 2025. The judging process involves an initial screening by the Jazz Composition Competition Committee, then the winner will be selected by professionals in the jazz industry. To ensure fairness, each composition will be judged without the composer’s name attached to the piece until after the winner is chosen. The winner will be revealed on April 1st, 2025, and their piece will be performed at National Convention later that year. A travel disbursement will be provided by the AABOD to the winner and their chosen performers. Additionally, the winning composer will receive a $500 life membership, $500 composer benefit, $500 cash prize, and the opportunity for publication with a major publishing company.
*Please note that all timeline details are tentative and subject to change.
A special thank you goes out to the brothers on the Jazz Composition Competition subcommittee (Tony Shelton, Helen Capehart, Samuel Dinkins III, Bryan Raya, and Abraham Anthony) for all the time and effort you have dedicated to this program. More information about the Jazz Composition Competition is set to be announced in the summer of 2024. Stay tuned as we embark on this musical journey together, celebrating the timeless art of jazz and the exceptional talent within our fraternity.
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