Competition
The 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition, in association with the new Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) in New York City, concluded on October 15, 2023.
Jahari Stampley of Chicago, Illinois took home the First Place prize. Connor Rohrer of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania came in second followed by Paul Cornish of Houston, Texas.
The other eight outstanding semifinalists were Alan Bartuš of Lučenec, Slovakia; Joe Block of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Caelan Cardello of Teaneck, New Jersey; Esteban Castro of Hackensack, New Jersey; Brandon Goldberg of Miami, Florida; Dabin Ryu of Seoul, South Korea; Jordan Isaiah Williams of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Jenny Xu of Surrey and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Learn more about the 2023 Competition Weekend here.
Established in 1987, the Institute’s International Competition is the most prestigious of its kind, recognized for discovering the next generation of jazz masters. The competition focuses on a different instrument each year and features an all-star judging panel. Past judges have included Dave Brubeck, Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, Christian McBride, Marian McPartland and Pat Metheny, among many others. This high-profile annual event has launched the careers of Ambrose Akinmusire, Melissa Aldana, Joey De Francesco, Jane Monheit, Chris Potter, Joshua Redman, Marcus Roberts, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Tierney Sutton, Jon Irabagon, Jacky Terrasson and Ben Williams, to name a few. Dozens of semifinalists have forged successful careers as jazz performers and educators. The winners receive significant scholarships to support their college studies and private music lessons.
Each year the Competition receives an extraordinary amount of publicity and press coverage in a variety of publications from The New York Times and The Washington Post to People magazine. National Public Radio has presented one-hour specials on past competitions that have reached 20 million listeners, and Black Entertainment Television has produced competition documentaries featuring performance clips and interviews with the contestants and judges.