Jahari Stampley of Chicago, Illinois Wins First Place in 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition

Special Tributes to Honorees Dianne Reeves & Frank Gehry with Herbie Hancock, Joe Lovano, Somi, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ambrose Akinmusire, Terri Lyne Carrington, Lizz Wright, Many More

New York, NY – The 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition and All-Star Gala Concert came to an exciting conclusion following the announcement of Jahari Stampley, age 24, of Chicago, Illinois as first place winner of the Competition.

Presented by the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, the world’s preeminent jazz education organization, in association with the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC), the Competition awarded major scholarships and prizes including a $50,000 first place award. World-renowned pianists Bill Charlap, Orrin Evans, Herbie Hancock, Hiromi and Danilo Pérez served as the Competition judges.

The October 15th event at PAC NYC on the historic World Trade Center campus featured a star-studded Gala Concert. The Institute presented its Maria Fisher Founder’s Award to five-time GRAMMY-winning jazz vocalist and educator Dianne Reeves, who has played a vital role in the Institute’s mission for nearly three decades. Visionary architect Frank Gehry was honored with the Institute’s Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award for his commitment to arts education, notably jazz and classical music training for young people. The evening featured stellar performances by a diverse group of all-stars including Musical Director John Beasley, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lizz Wright, Anat Cohen, Romero Lubambo, Jean Baylor, Joe Lovano, Hélène Mercier, Somi, Ambrose Akinmusire and Ben Williams.

First place winner Jahari Stampley captivated the audience with his performances of  “Prelude Entrance” and “After The Morning.”  Second place winner Connor Rohrer,  Age 23,  of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania performed “Someplace Called Where” and “Matrix,” and third place winner Paul Cornish, Age 26, of Houston, Texas performed “Intrepid Fox” and “Come Sunday.”   They were among the 11 outstanding, young pianists from around the world who competed a day earlier in the Competition Semifinals at PAC NYC. Bassist Richie Goods and drummer Carl Allen accompanied each competitor.

The Gala opened with multi-GRAMMY and Tony Award winner Dee Dee Bridgewater performing Chick Corea’s “Spain” with an all-star ensemble. Later in the evening, the Institute shined a spotlight on some of the top young jazz musicians across the country. The Institute’s National Peer-to-Peer High School All-Star Jazz Sextet performed Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” alongside vocalist and former Institute Competition winner Lisa Henry. Among the nation’s most accomplished young jazz musicians, these students train with Institute teaching artists at public performing arts high schools nationwide. U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona, who hosts an Institute Peer-to-Peer performance at the Department of Education each year, made remarks about the importance of music education in the schools.

The evening also showcased the Herbie Hancock Institute Ensemble performing Herbie Hancock’s “Actual Proof.” These gifted musicians from around the world receive full scholarships to attend the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance, the Institute’s prestigious master’s degree program at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music in Los Angeles. The students, who represent the next generation of jazz artists, study for two years with world-renowned jazz musicians, composers and educators.

Multi-GRAMMY Award-winning bassist, singer and composer Esperanza Spalding honored Frank Gehry with the Institute’s Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award. She highlighted his renowned architectural achievements and his devotion to helping others – from volunteering in public schools and supporting the Turnaround Arts initiative for at-risk youth to serving on the Institute’s Board of Trustees and taking an active role in its jazz education programs. Piano virtuoso Hélène Mercier of Paris and piano prodigy A Bu of Beijing performed a stunning rendition of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” fusing jazz and classical influences. Herbie Hancock, Ambrose Akinmusire, Joe Lovano, Ben Williams and Terri Lyne Carrington then performed “Speak No Evil” by the late Wayne Shorter, Gehry’s close friend and creative collaborator.

To honor Dianne Reeves, acclaimed actor Delroy Lindo shared the story of how Reeves found her passion early on through music, as a member of her high school big band. She went on to tour with Sergio Mendes and Harry Belafonte, release a series of chart-topping albums, earn five GRAMMY Awards and make a profound impact on jazz and her millions of fans. The evening’s special guests, including vocalists Somi, Jean Baylor, Michael Mayo and Lizz Wright, paid tribute to Reeves by performing three of her songs: the powerful, percussive “Endangered Species,” the gorgeous ballad “Bridges,” and the gospel-tinged “Today Will Be a Good Day.” After accepting the Maria Fisher Founder’s Award from Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, Reeves graced the stage with a riveting performance of “You Taught My Heart to Sing.”

Proceeds from the All-Star Gala Concert will support the Institute’s public school education programs in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, DC and many other cities across the nation. All of the Institute’s education programs are provided free of charge, with an emphasis on serving economically disadvantaged public school students and their teachers and parents.

Air transportation was provided by United Airlines, Official Airline of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.

Semifinalists Announced for 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition, October 14-15 in New York City

Competition Festivities at Perelman Performing Arts Center Include All-Star Gala Concert Honoring Renowned Jazz Vocalist Dianne Reeves and Visionary Architect Frank Gehry

Washington, D.C. — Eleven outstanding young jazz pianists from around the world will compete in the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition October 14-15 presented in association with the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) on the historic World Trade Center campus.

The semifinalists are: Alan Bartuš of Lučenec, Slovakia; Joe Block of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Caelan Cardello of Teaneck, New Jersey; Esteban Castro of Hackensack, New Jersey; Paul Cornish of Houston, Texas; Brandon Goldberg of Miami, Florida; Connor Rohrer of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Dabin Ryu of Seoul, South Korea; Jahari Stampley of Chicago, Illinois; Jordan Isaiah Williams of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Jenny Xu of Surrey and Vancouver, British Columbia.

These aspiring musicians will compete in the Semifinals on Saturday, October 14 from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at PAC NYC. The semifinalists will perform before an all-star judging panel of internationally acclaimed jazz pianists including Bill Charlap, Orrin Evans, Herbie Hancock, Hiromi and Danilo Pérez. Each semifinalist will perform for 15 minutes accompanied by a stellar rhythm section featuring bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Carl Allen.

From this group, the judges will select three finalists to perform in the Competition Finals on Sunday evening, October 15. At stake is more than $150,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a $50,000 first place award, $25,000 second place award, and $10,000 third place award. The evening will culminate with an All-Star Gala Concert featuring performances by artists including Ambrose Akinmusire, Jean Baylor, John Beasley (Musical Director), Dee Dee Bridgewater, A Bu, Terri Lyne Carrington, Anat Cohen, Joe Lovano, Romero Lubambo, Michael Mayo, Somi, Helen Sung, Ben Williams, and Lizz Wright among others. The Institute will present its Maria Fisher Founder’s Award to five-time GRAMMY Award-winning jazz vocalist and educator Dianne Reeves. Internationally celebrated architect Frank Gehry will receive the Institute’s Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award for his commitment to arts education, especially jazz and classical music training for young people.

Proceeds from the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition and All-Star Gala Concert will support the Institute’s free, year-round jazz education programs, which serve students from under-resourced public schools across the United States and around the world.

Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition Semifinals
Saturday, October 14, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
PAC NYC, 251 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10007

Seats for the Semifinals are free of charge but limited, as space allows. Walk-up guests are welcome to check-in at the Audience Services desk for admission.

Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition Finals and All-Star Gala Concert
Sunday, October 15 at 6 p.m.
PAC NYC, 251 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10007

The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition is presented in association with PAC NYC. Tickets are $59 to $149 and may be purchased via the PAC NYC website at www.pacnyc.org.


2023 Competition Semifinalist Bios

Alan Bartuš was born in Lučenec, Slovakia and studied jazz piano at Musik und Kunst University in Vienna, Austria. He went on to win an instrumental performance award at the Slovak Jazz Competition and has since performed with his trio at Bratislava Jazz Days Festival, Top Jazz Fest, Jazz Fest Trencin and Liptov Jazz Fest. Bartuš won the prestigious Austrian Ö1 Jazz Prize and attended the Manhattan School of Music. He has toured and recorded with saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, and collaborated with Tim Armacost and Peter Erskine. Most recently, Bartuš won the 2023 Artedea Jazz Competition in Austria.

Joe Block is a pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, educator and musical director who was born and raised in Philadelphia. He studied at the Juilliard School and Columbia University. Block has performed and toured with Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Chris Potter, Alvin Ailey Dance Company and Leslie Odom, Jr. He arranges and composes for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis Septet, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia. Block is the musical director and pianist for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Future of Jazz Orchestra. He regularly performs with his own trio and quintet.

Caelan Cardello of Teaneck, New Jersey has been playing piano since age 5 and began performing professionally at age 16. As a Jazz House Kids student for seven years, he learned from the greatest jazz mentors and performed at Dizzy’s Club and the Montclair Jazz Festival. Cardello has performed with Christian McBride, Joe Farnsworth, Jimmy Cobb, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Rufus Reid. He was one of five finalists selected for the 2023 American Pianists Awards jazz competition. Cardello received his bachelor’s degree in jazz performance from William Paterson University and is now earning his master’s degree at the Juilliard School.

Esteban Castro of Hackensack, New Jersey was the youngest winner of the Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition and the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. A senior on full scholarship at the Juilliard School, he has received three ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards and was a 2023 American Pianists Awards finalist. Castro has played with Billy Drummond, Billy Hart, Joe Lovano, Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, Mark Whitfield and many other jazz greats. He has performed at the Blue Note, NPR Tiny Desk, Birdland, Dizzy’s Club, The Jazz Gallery, NJPAC, Smalls, The Black Cat, Carnegie Hall and Steinway Hall.

Paul Cornish hails from Houston, where he studied at the prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He was one of seven students worldwide selected to attend the jazz performance master’s degree program at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz at UCLA. Cornish received the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s 2020 New Note Commission and was awarded first place in the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. He also received the grand prize in the 2018 American Jazz Piano Competition. Cornish has performed worldwide with notable artists including Joshua Redman, Louis Cole, Theo Croker, Snoh Aalegra, Terrace Martin, Thumpasaurus and HAIM.

Brandon Goldberg of Miami began playing piano at age 3. At a young age, he was featured on national television in Little Big Shots, The Steve Harvey Show and Harry, hosted by Harry Connick, Jr. Goldberg has performed at the Newport, Litchfield, SFJAZZ, Twin Cities and Caramoor jazz festivals and appeared at Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, the Blue Note and the Apollo Theater. A 2022 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer awardee, he was commissioned to write two compositions performed by the Miami Symphony Orchestra. Goldberg has released two albums, both earning four-star reviews from DownBeat and being named Top Albums of the year.

Connor Rohrer of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania has been a member of the DownBeat Award-winning Teen Town jazz fusion trio since 2015. He received his bachelor’s degree from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in music theory and composition. He also serves as the teaching assistant for the university’s jazz piano department. Rohrer frequently performs with two-time GRAMMY winner Samara Joy. In addition to his performance abilities, he has developed his skills in composition, transcription/notation, analysis and pedagogy.

Dabin Ryu is an award-winning jazz pianist from Seoul, South Korea. Ryu received a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance and jazz composition from the Berklee College of Music and a master’s degree in jazz studies from the Manhattan School of Music. She now attends the Juilliard School’s Artist Diploma program. Ryu has performed with world-renowned artists including Kurt Elling, Billy Harper, Rodney Jones, Ralph Peterson and Neal Smith, and appeared at top venues including Blues Alley, Dizzy’s Club, Harlem Stage, Scullers, Smalls and Zinc Bar. An accomplished bandleader and composer, she has led international tours.

Jahari Stampley of Chicago is a National YoungArts Competition winner who has toured with Stanley Clarke and is featured on Derrick Hodge’s Color of Noise album. He has performed at leading venues including Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, SFJAZZ and The Met Philadelphia, and headlined and performed solo piano tours in Germany and Switzerland. Stampley is the bandleader and pianist for the feature film Spinning Gold. He won the Bösendorfer prize at the 2019 American Pianists Awards jazz competition. Stampley created all of the animation, art and music for his first music app, Piano Chronicles.

Jordan Isaiah Williams is an internationally recognized pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who has toured the U.S. and internationally with Bobby Watson, Curtis Lundy, Camille Thurman, the Darrell Green Quartet and Isaiah Collier. He performs regularly with Philip Harper, Winard Harper, Duane Eubanks, Ruben Fox, Taru Alexander, Corey Wallace and many others. Originally from Philadelphia, Williams began his classical and jazz piano instruction at age 7 at the Settlement Music School and the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and the Performing Arts. Recently, he performed at the 2023 Newport Jazz Festival as part of The Bobby Watson All-Star Quintet.

Jenny Xu is a pianist from Surrey and Vancouver, British Columbia who received her bachelor’s degree in music performance from the Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship. She earned her master’s degree in jazz piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where she held the piano chair in the Latin GRAMMY-nominated Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra and worked closely with Paquito D’Rivera and Irakere. Xu has performed at more than a dozen festivals and shared the stage with artists including Candido Camero, George Garzone, Eddie Gomez, Ingrid Jensen, Dave Liebman, Harold Mabern Arturo O’Farrill, New York Voices, Kendrick Scott and Buster Williams.


Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Competition

Formerly the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Competition, the Hancock Institute Competition is recognized as the world’s most prestigious jazz competition and for discovering the next generation of jazz masters, including saxophonist Joshua Redman; vocalists Cécile McLorin Salvant, Jane Monheit, Gretchen Parlato and Jazzmeia Horn; pianist Kris Bowers; bassist Ben Williams; and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, among others. Major scholarships and prizes are awarded to the talented young musicians participating in the Competition. The scholarships help pay tuition for college-level jazz education studies and provide funds for private, specialized instruction. hancockinstitute.org/competition/

Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is a nonprofit education organization offering the world’s most promising young musicians college level training by internationally acclaimed jazz masters and presenting public school music education programs for young people around the world. The Institute preserves, perpetuates and expands jazz as a global art form, and utilizes jazz as a means to unite people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. All of the Institute’s programs are provided free of charge. hancockinstitute.org

Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)

Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) is the cultural cornerstone and final public element of the World Trade Center site. Led by Board Chair Mike Bloomberg, Executive Director Khady Kamara, and Artistic Director Bill Rauch, the new performing arts center in Lower Manhattan is a dynamic home for the arts, serving audiences and creators through flexible venues enabling the facility to embrace wide-ranging artistic programs. The PAC NYC Inaugural Season will feature commissions, World Premieres, co-productions, and collaborative work across theater, dance, music, opera, film, and more. pacnyc.org

Institute’s 2023 International Piano Competition (Oct. 14-15, NYC) in Association with the New Perelman Performing Arts Center

All-Star Gala Concert to Honor Renowned Jazz Vocalist Dianne Reeves and Visionary Architect and Jazz Aficionado Frank Gehry

Washington, D.C — Outstanding young jazz pianists from around the world will compete in the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition on October 14-15 in New York City, presented in association with the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC). The 2023 Competition will be a premier feature of the inaugural season of PAC NYC, located on the historic World Trade Center campus, adjacent to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The 2023 Competition weekend will include a highly anticipated Semifinals round on October 14 at 1:00 p.m., followed by the Competition Finals and a spectacular All-Star Gala Concert on the evening of October 15. The All-Star Gala Concert will honor Dianne Reeves and Frank Gehry.

Open to musicians age 30 and under from across the globe, this year’s Competition will shine a spotlight on the piano. At stake is more than $150,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a $50,000 first place award, $25,000 second place, and $10,000 third place.

The semifinalists will perform on Saturday afternoon before an all-star judging panel of internationally acclaimed jazz pianists including Bill Charlap, Herbie Hancock, Hiromi and Danilo Pérez, with more to be announced.  Each semifinalist will perform for 15 minutes accompanied by a stellar rhythm section featuring Carl Allen on drums and Rodney Whitaker on bass. The Semifinals will be free and open to the public; details on ticket distribution will be announced at a later date.

From this group, the judges will select three finalists to perform in the Competition Finals at the Perelman PAC on Sunday evening. The festivities will culminate with an All-Star Gala Concert featuring performances by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dianne Reeves, Somi, Joe Lovano, John Beasley, Romero Lubambo, Ben Williams and many others.

The Institute will present its Maria Fisher Founder’s Award to multi-GRAMMY Award-winning jazz vocalist and educator Dianne Reeves. The Institute’s Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award will be given to globally-acclaimed architect Frank Gehry for his steadfast commitment to arts education, especially jazz and classical music training for young people. Past honorees have included Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Bill Clinton, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Benson and Terence Blanchard.

The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Competition plays a pivotal role in identifying, empowering and promoting the next generation of jazz musicians, educators and influencers. The Institute’s Competition has launched the careers of major jazz artists including saxophonist Joshua Redman and Melissa Aldana; vocalists Cécile McLorin Salvant, Jane Monheit, Jazzmeia Horn and Gretchen Parlato; pianist Kris Bowers; bassist Ben Williams; and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. These artists and dozens more from past Competitions have forged successful careers as performing and recording artists, as well as music educators helping to perpetuate America’s legacy of jazz.

The application for the 2023 Piano Competition can be found online at hancockinstitute.org/competition. All materials must be received no later than Monday, July 31, 2023.

Proceeds from the event will support the Herbie Hancock Institute’s free, year-round jazz education programs, which target underserved public schools across the United States and around the world.


Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Competition

Formerly the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Competition, the Hancock Institute Competition is recognized as the world’s most prestigious jazz competition and for discovering the next generation of jazz masters. Each year, major scholarships and prizes are awarded to the talented young musicians participating in the Competition. The scholarships help pay tuition for college-level jazz education studies and provide funds for private, specialized instruction. 

Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is a nonprofit education organization offering the world’s most promising young musicians college level training by internationally acclaimed jazz masters and presenting public school music education programs for young people around the world. The Institute preserves, perpetuates and expands jazz as a global art form, and utilizes jazz as a means to unite people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. All of the Institute’s education programs are provided free of charge.

Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)

Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) at the World Trade Center was conceived as the cultural keystone in the 2003 plan for the rebuilt 16-acre World Trade Center site. As a global hub for creativity, the PAC will create connections between artists and audiences from across New York City and around the world through music, theater, dance, opera, film, and other events and experiences, demonstrating the power of the arts to inspire and unite.  Designed by Joshua Ramus and his firm REX, in collaboration with theater consultant Charcoalblue and Executive Architect Davis Brody Bond, the building’s 129,000-square-foot “mystery box” houses three immensely flexible theaters that can be combined and reconfigured to accommodate artistic creativity, innovation, and invention and engage audiences with surprising new experiences at every visit. 

2008 Saxophone Competition Winner Jon Irabagon to Star in Upcoming Solo Performance Film

Renowned first-generation Filipino-American saxophonist and composer Jon Irabagon, winner of the Institute’s 2008 International Saxophone Competition, is set to star in an innovative new performance film released by Columbus, Ohio, nonprofit A Tribe for Jazz.

LEGACY: Jon Irabagon, a Solo Tenor Odyssey showcases Irabagon performing his original compositions entirely unaccompanied in a dramatic black box theater environment. Included in the 40-minute concert is career-spanning repertoire featuring two previously unreleased compositions, “Greebles” and “Alliance.” Directed by Julian Melanson and produced by A Tribe for Jazz Executive Director Stephanie Matthews, the film will also shine a spotlight on Columbus institutions including the Columbus Dance Theatre, Garden Manor House, Le Meridien Columbus, Columbus Athletic Club, Lincoln Social and The Guild House.

LEGACY will debut online on Friday, October 15, 2021. Visit A Tribe for Jazz for more information.

At the Institute’s 2008 Saxophone Competition, Irabagon was awarded first-place honors by a distinguished panel of judges including Jane Ira Bloom, Jimmy Heath, Greg Osby, David Sánchez and Institute Trustee Wayne Shorter. Performing alongside GRAMMY and Tony Award-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, who currently serves as an Institute Trustee, the Chicago-born saxophonist wowed the audience with his memorable interpretation of the classic jazz standard “Just Friends.”

“The Competition was a chance to meet many of my colleagues and heroes,” says Irabagon. “The world needs more of that. Mr. Shorter in particular was adamant about me finding my own way and direction in this music, and that is the biggest, most important thing I took from that weekend.  I wouldn’t be as confident or undeterred with my own music without having been a part of the Competition.”

2008 International Saxophone Competition winner Jon Irabagon performs alongside Institute Trustees Wayne Shorter and Jimmy Heath at the Institute’s 25th Anniversary Celebration at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, September 12, 2011. Photo by Chip Latshaw.

Since his Competition win, Irabagon has repeatedly topped leading critics’ polls, including the DownBeat Rising Star categories for both alto and tenor saxophone, and was named one of New York City’s 25 Jazz Icons by Time Out New York. His collaborations with an array of artists and groups from across the jazz spectrum, including Dave Douglas, Barry Altschul, Rudy Royston, Mary Halvorson, Matt Mitchell and Mostly Other People Do the Killing — with which he recorded Blue in 2014, a note-for-note recreation of Miles Davis’ vaunted release Kind of Blue — have gained him wide recognition. Irabagon launched his own imprint, Irabbagast Records, in 2012, and has released 12 full-length albums to date.

Today, Irabagon is a leading voice on the saxophone whose musical vision reflects both his improvisational and compositional mastery and a deep commitment to his Filipino heritage. In 2014, he was awarded the Pamana ng Pilipino Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas, recognizing his contribution to the perception of Filipinos worldwide.

About A Tribe for Jazz

Formed by jazz and arts supporter Bruce Halliburton, A Tribe for Jazz is a nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve the legacy and advance the future of jazz through visual storytelling, live and virtual performances, education and community engagement. The nonprofit says LEGACY is “the first of many special, transformative moments to follow from A Tribe for Jazz, as it weaves stories and themes from varied angles, fused with unexpected and dynamic visuals, to present a portrait of jazz as the captivating, multidimensional art form that it is.”

Getting the Band Back Together: National Peer-to-Peer Quintet performs at 2019 Competition

The 2019 edition of the Herbie Hancock Institute National Peer-to-Peer Jazz Quintet, comprising five of the most impressive high school jazz musicians in the country, recently reunited to perform at the Institute’s International Jazz Guitar Competition Finals & All-Star Gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC on December 3rd. On the same bill as such jazz luminaries as Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, and Bobby Watson, the group opened the show with acclaimed saxophonist Antonio Hart, performing Hart’s arrangement of Seven Steps to Heaven, one of the first compositions Hancock recorded with fellow jazz icon, Miles Davis.

(From left) Institute Teaching Artist Antonio Hart performs with National Peer-to-Peer Jazz Quintet members Jalin Shiver, Sasha Ripley, and Jeremiah Collier during the 2019 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater on December 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images for Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

The power of peer-to-peer

Under the direction of Dr. JB Dyas, the Institute’s VP for Education and Curriculum Development, the peer-to-peer students annually participate in weeklong national peer-to-peer jazz informance tours in which they gain invaluable performance experience playing alongside internationally acclaimed artists while they, in turn, educate young audiences in public schools across the U.S. about America’s indigenous musical art form, jazz. In so doing, they not only help develop jazz audiences for the future, but also exemplify the deeply held American values that jazz represents: teamwork, unity with ethnic diversity, democracy, persistence, and the vital importance of really listening to one another.

The 2019 National Peer-to-Peer Jazz Quintet rehearses with Teaching Artist Antonio Hart and Institute Vice President for Education and Curriculum Development Dr. JB Dyas prior to the 2019 Competition on December 3, 2019. Photo by Steve Mundinger/Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

The 2019 group was composed of alto saxophonist Jalin Shiver(Newark), tenor saxophonist Sasha Ripley (Houston), pianist Dalton Hayse (Los Angeles), bassist Dario Bizio (Los Angeles), and drummer Jeremiah Collier (Chicago). The Quintet toured New England in spring 2019 with esteemed trumpeter/educator Sean Jones, performing in high schools in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. They also performed at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission headquarters in Washington, DC, where they presented a workshop for the FTC’s highest level employees on leadership lessons that can be gleaned from the jazz paradigm.

The Institute congratulates these talented young artists on their achievements, and thanks them for their dedication to sharing the positive lessons of jazz with audiences of all ages.

Semifinalists Announced for 2019 Guitar Competition, December 2-3 in Washington, D.C.

Competition Festivities Include All-Star Gala Concert Honoring
Renowned Trumpeter/Composer Terence Blanchard

Washington, D.C. —Twelve outstanding young jazz guitarists from around the world have been selected to compete in the 2019 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition on December 2-3 in Washington, D.C.

The semifinalists are: Cecil Alexander of Muskegon, Michigan; Joseph Bell of Princeton, New Jersey; Will Brahm of Portland, Oregon; François Chanvallon of Paris, France; Lucian Gray of Toronto, Canada; Max Light of Bethesda, Maryland; Armen Movsesyan of Los Angeles, California; Evgeny Pobozhiy of Seversk, Russia; Matt Sewell of St. Louis, Missouri; Juan Vidaurre of Caracas, Venezuela; Tal Yahalom of Jerusalem, Israel; and Francesco Zampini of Rome, Italy.

The 2019 Guitar Competition semifinalists are (in alphabetical order): Cecil Alexander of Muskegon, Michigan; Joseph Bell of Princeton, New Jersey; Will Brahm of Portland, Oregon; François Chanvallon of Paris, France; Lucian Gray of Toronto, Canada; Max Light of Bethesda, Maryland; Armen Movsesyan of Los Angeles, California; Evgeny Pobozhiy of Seversk, Russia; Matt Sewell of St. Louis, Missouri; Juan Vidaurre of Caracas, Venezuela; Tal Yahalom of Jerusalem, Israel; and Francesco Zampini of Rome, Italy.

These aspiring jazz musicians will compete in the Semifinals round, taking place on Monday, December 2nd, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian. The semifinalists will perform before an all-star judging panel of internationally acclaimed jazz guitarists: Stanley JordanLionel Loueke, Russell MalonePat MethenyChico PinheiroLee Ritenour and John Scofield. Each semifinalist will perform for 15 minutes accompanied by a stellar rhythm section featuring pianist Reggie Thomas, bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and drummer Carl Allen.

From this group, the judges will select three finalists to perform in the Competition Finals at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday evening, December 3rd. At stake is more than $150,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a $30,000 first place scholarship and guaranteed recording contract with Concord Music Group; a $15,000 second place scholarship; and a $10,000 third place scholarship. The evening will culminate with an All-Star Gala Concert featuring performances by Herbie HancockDee Dee Bridgewater, Lizz WrightBobby Watson, Musical Director John Beasley, Emmy Award-winning actor and vocalist Keith David and many other jazz greats. The Institute will present its Maria Fisher Founder’s Award to multi-GRAMMY Award-winning trumpeter, composer and educator Terence Blanchard. Many of his former Institute students, including recording artists Gretchen ParlatoWalter Smith IIIDayna Stephens and others leading the next generation of major jazz artists, will take the stage to pay tribute to Blanchard.

Proceeds from the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition and All-Star Gala Concert will support the Institute’s public school education programs in Washington D.C., Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Newark, San Francisco and the Mississippi Delta.

Event and ticket information
Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition Semifinals
Monday, December 2nd at 12 noon with ticket distribution at 11:00 a.m.
Rasmuson Theater at the National Museum of the American Indian
4thSt. & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C.

Tickets for the Semifinals are free of charge but limited, and will be distributed by the Smithsonian Associates at the National Museum of the American Indian on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 11:00 a.m. 

Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition Finals and All-Star Gala Concert
Tuesday, December 3rd at 7:30 p.m.
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater
2700 F St., NW, Washington, D.C.

Tickets are $35 to $125 and may be purchased via the Kennedy Center box office in person, by calling 800.444.1324, or online at www.kennedy-center.org. Information regarding VIP packages, which include a post-event VIP Cast Party, is available from the Institute at 202.364.7272.  

2019 Guitar Competition To Take Place December 2-3 in Washington, D.C.

Applications due October 11, 2019

NOTE: The application deadline for the 2019 Guitar Competition has now passed. Applicants will be notified of the results of the preliminary judging by November 8, 2019.

Washington, D.C —The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Competition will be presented on December 2-3 in Washington, D.C. Open to musicians age 30 and under from across the globe, this year’s competition will shine a spotlight on the guitar.

For over three decades, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Competition played a pivotal role in identifying and empowering the next generation of jazz musicians, educators, and influencers. Building upon this important legacy, the newly minted Hancock Institute Competition represents a changing of the guard for one of the jazz world’s most renowned institutions.

The Semifinals of the 2019 Guitar Competition will be held on Monday, December 2nd, from noon to 5:00 p.m. at the National Museum of the American Indian. The semifinalists will compete before an all-star panel of judges including jazz guitarists Stanley JordanRussell MalonePat MethenyChico PinheiroLee Ritenour and John Scofield. Each semifinalist will perform for 15 minutes accompanied by a professional rhythm section.

From this group, the judges will select three finalists who will perform in the final round at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday evening, December 3rd. At stake is more than $150,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a $30,000 first place scholarship and guaranteed recording contract with Concord Music Group; a $15,000 second place scholarship; and a $10,000 third place scholarship.

According to Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, whose career epitomizes the ideals of the jazz tradition and innovation, “We look forward to discovering and hearing from the next generation of young jazz guitarists, with their innovative styles and unique approach to the music. We are particularly excited to pay homage to the guitar, which has a rich and colorful history that continues to play a pivotal role in the development of jazz. I have no doubt that this year’s Competition will show that the future of this instrument, and of our music, is in good hands.”

Tickets

Tickets to the December 3 Competition Finals at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts may be purchased online.

Tax-deductible Gala packages are available for purchase, for premium seating and other benefits. Click here to view available packages.

Tickets to the December 2 semifinals at the National Museum of the American Indian are free and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 11 am.

Download the full press release here.

Editors: contact Alisse Kingsley
akingsley@hancockinstitute.org
323.467.8508

Application now available for 2019 Guitar Competition

The 2019 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition will be presented on December 2-3 in Washington, D.C. The Competition is open to all guitarists who plan to pursue jazz performance as a career. Eligibility is exclusive to guitarists who are 30 years of age and under as of December 3, 2019. Applicants must not have any binding record label or distribution affiliations. Applicants must be free, willing and able to accept all prize awards, including a recording contract with Concord Music Group.

Prizes and scholarships will be awarded as follows:

First place – $30,000 and Concord Music Group recording contract
Second place – $15,000
Third place – $10,000

Fifty percent of each prize will be paid directly toward the winners’ future musical studies. The remaining funds may be applied toward music education expenses or the promotion of the winners’ careers.

Apply

The application for the 2019 Guitar Competition can be found here. All materials must be submitted no later than Friday, October 11, 2019. Please email any questions to Leonard Brown or call +1 (202) 364-7272.

Access the 2019 Competition Application

Tom Oren Selected as First-Place Winner for 2018 Piano Competition

Washington, DC – The 2018 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition and All-Star Gala Concert came to a thrilling conclusion following the announcement of Tom Oren (24), of Tel Aviv, Israel, as first place winner of the Competition. Tom then joined a host of jazz greats onstage to perform the Miles Davis tune “Walkin'” for the enthusiastic audience.

Presented by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, the world’s preeminent jazz education organization, the Competition awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a major scholarship and a guaranteed recording contract with Concord Music Group for the winner. The distinguished judges included Monty Alexander, Joanne Brackeen, Cyrus Chestnut, Herbie Hancock, Jason MoranDanilo Pérez and Renee Rosnes.

The December 3rdevent at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater featured a star-studded Gala Concert with a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin and the presentation of the Institute’s Maria Fisher Founder’s Award to internationally celebrated vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. Hosted by award-winning actor Blair Underwood, the evening featured amazing performances by a diverse group of all-stars including Musical Director John BeasleyTheo CrokerDeborah Joy Winans, James GenusJimmy Heath and Ledisi. They were joined onstage by past Competition winners and finalists Ambrose Akinmusire, Melissa AldanaKris BowersRoberta GambariniJazzmeia HornLinda Oh and Jamison Ross, all of whom have become leading names on the international jazz scene.

First place winner Tom Oren (24), commanded the audience’s attention with his performance of “Just One Of Those Things” and “Just As Though You Were Here.” Second place winner Isaiah Thompson (21), of West Orange, New Jersey, performed “A Prayer/Good Intentions” and “The Other Originals” (both originals) and third place winner Maxime Sanchez (31), of Toulouse, France, performed “The Mothers of The Veil” and “Gone With The Wind.” They were among the 13 outstanding young pianists from around the world who competed a day earlier in the Competition Semifinals at the National Museum of Natural History’s Baird Auditorium. Bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Carl Allen accompanied each competitor.

2018 Competition Finalists (from left) Maxime Sanchez, Isaiah Thompson and Tom Oren with Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, December 3, 2018.
2018 Competition Finalists (from left) Maxime Sanchez, Isaiah Thompson and Tom Oren with Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, December 3, 2018. Photo Credit: Steve Mundinger/Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

The Gala began by shining a spotlight on emerging musicians. The Institute’s National Peer-to-Peer High School All-Star Jazz Sextet performed Stevie Wonder’s hit “Higher Ground” with dynamic vocalist Lisa Henry, a past Competition winner. Among the nation’s most accomplished young jazz musicians, these students train with Institute teaching artists at public performing arts high schools across the country.

The evening also showcased the Thelonious Monk Institute Ensemble performing Herbie Hancock’s “Riot.” These seven gifted musicians from around the world receive full scholarships to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, the Institute’s master’s degree program at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music in Los Angeles. These students, who represent the next generation of jazz artists, study for two years with Distinguished Professors Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, and receive instruction from many other world-renowned jazz musicians, composers and educators.

Highlights of the Gala Concert included a soulful medley of Aretha Franklin tunes sung by Ledisi, Roberta Gambarini, Jazzmeia Horn and Lisa Henry in tribute to the Queen of Soul, a longtime Institute supporter.

Jazz master Jimmy Heath, now more than 90 years young, led a performance of his composition “Without Song.” And acclaimed vocalist Deborah Joy Winans and saxophone star Melissa Aldana gave a passionate rendition of “If You Believe” from Dee Dee Bridgewater’s Tony Award-winning performance in “The Wiz.”

After accepting the Maria Fisher Founder’s Award from Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater joined Hancock and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire in a mesmerizing performance of Mongo Santamaria’s “Afro Blue.”

Institute Advisory Board member Dee Dee Bridgewater accepts the 2018 Maria Fisher Founder's Award with (from left) Herbie Hancock, Blair Underwood, Ledisi, Deborah Joy Winans and Jazzmeia Horn.
Institute Advisory Board member Dee Dee Bridgewater accepts the 2018 Maria Fisher Founder’s Award with (from left) Herbie Hancock, Blair Underwood, Ledisi, Deborah Joy Winans and Jazzmeia Horn. Photo Credit: Steve Mundinger/Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

Proceeds from the All-Star Gala Concert will support the Institute’s public school education programs in Washington D.C., Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Newark, San Francisco and the Mississippi Delta. Through its Competition and wide-ranging education programs, the Institute identifies and trains the world’s most promising young jazz musicians. All of the Institute’s education programs are provided free of charge, with a special emphasis on serving economically disadvantaged public school students and their teachers and parents.

Finalists Announced for 2018 Piano Competition

The Semifinals round of the 2018 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition concluded Saturday evening with the selection of Tom Oren (Tel Aviv, Israel), Maxime Sanchez (Toulouse, France) and Isaiah Thompson (West Orange, New Jersey) as Finalists. The three talented pianists will participate in the Competition Finals on December 3 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. At stake will be a guaranteed recording contract with Concord Records along with major scholarships.

The Semifinals pool included thirteen talented young pianists hailing from Estonia, France, Hungary, Israel, Russia, Spain and the United States. Each competitor had the opportunity to perform for 15 minutes before an all-star judging panel. The Finalists chose a variety of compositions ranging from originals to selections from the Great American Songbook:

  • Tom Oren: “Lester Left Town” (Wayne Shorter), “Lush Life” (Billy Strayhorn), “52nd Street Theme” (Thelonious Monk)
  • Maxime Sanchez: “Blue Dog” (Original), “You Are Too Beautiful” (Rogers & Hart), “317 East 32nd Street Theme” (Lennie Tristano)
  • Isaiah Thompson: “Manteca” (Dizzy Gillespie/Chano Pozo), “The IT Department” (Original), “Chelsea Bridge” (Billy Strayhorn)

The Competition Finals will take place on Monday in the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre before an illustrious panel of judges including Monty Alexander, Joanne Brackeen, Cyrus Chestnut, Herbie Hancock, Jason Moran, Danilo Pérez and Renee Rosnes. The evening’s program will consist of performances from Oren, Sanchez and Thompson beginning at 7:30 p.m. followed by an All-Star Gala Concert featuring a tribute to late music icon and Institute supporter Aretha Franklin. The evening will conclude with the presentation of the Maria Fisher Founder’s Award to Institute Advisory Board member Dee Dee Bridgewater, followed by the announcement of the first, second and third place awards.

The Institute congratulates all of the 2018 Competitors on their incredible performances and musicianship, and thanks them for their participation.

Click here to purchase tickets to the Competition Finals at the Kennedy Center.

Click here to learn more about the 2018 Competition.