Detroit Jazz Festival Announces Two National Jazz Competitions with Opportunities to Perform
at the Festival and Cash Prizes
Marcus Belgrave National Jazz Trumpet Competition
and JC Heard Arranging Competition
The Detroit Jazz Festival is proud to announce two exciting contests for working musicians and students up to 35 years of age.
As part of the Festival's ongoing commitment to keep the legacy of jazz
alive while looking to explore and showcase future talent of the genre,
both competitions offer cash prizes and a chance to perform, or have an
arranged piece performed, at this year's Detroit Jazz Festival on Labor
Day weekend, August 30 - September 2.
"These
competitions are really at the core of what the Detroit Jazz Festival
is all about. Of course, we pride ourselves on an unsurpassed musical
experience on Labor Day weekend in Detroit and with community concerts
throughout the year, but the dedication to fostering a new generation of
musicians is, in some ways, how this festival will leave an enduring
legacy," said Chris Collins, artistic director for the
Detroit Jazz Festival. "While we continually celebrate our rich history,
we realize that offering opportunity and creating meaningful avenues
for young musicians and artists in the heart of their career who deserve
wider recognition, is critical. This is really an effort to recognize
and celebrate musicians who haven't yet been discovered but are
nonetheless contributing to the fabric of this great art form."
Marcus Belgrave National Jazz Trumpet Competition
In honor of native Detroiter Marcus Belgrave,
the festival is recognizing outstanding jazz trumpeters 35 or younger
whose artistry reflects the commitment to tradition and search for
originality that are tenants of Belgrave's virtuosity.
A
panel of judges, including Belgrave; Chris Collins, Detroit Jazz
Festival artistic director; and others, will select the grand-prize
winner based on artistic excellence; creativity; group interaction,
originality, familiarity with the jazz vocabulary and stylistic
continuity.
Grand Prize:
Winner will be awarded $1,500 and time slot to perform a set at the
2013 Detroit Jazz Festival with the Detroit Jazz Festival All-Star
Quartet.
Runners-Up:
Two finalists will be awarded $500 each; recognition on the festival
website and from the stage during the Detroit Jazz Festival.
All submissions must be received by July 10, 2013.
Three finalists will be selected by July 22, 2013.
JC Heard Arranging Competition
In memory of jazz legend, drummer and Detroit big band leader JC Heard,
this annual arranging competition will celebrate the compositions of
the late Dave Brubeck and highlight his artistry by encouraging new
works from young arrangers throughout the United States.
Arrangers
will be asked to choose a composition from Brubeck's body of work and
create an original arrangement for a designated ensemble (big band
instrumentation as defined below).
A
panel of judges including Chris Brubeck (son of Dave Brubeck), Chris
Collins and professional Detroit arrangers will select finalists based
on: artistic excellence, creativity, technique, integration of soloists,
improvisational and ensemble elements, originality, and stylistic
continuity.
Grand Prize:
Winner will be awarded $1000 and their winning arrangement will be
performed at the Detroit Jazz Festival by Detroit All-Star Big Band.
Runners-Up:
Two finalists will be awarded $500 each and recognition on the festival
web site and from the stage at the Detroit Jazz Festival.
All applications must be received by August 1, 2013.
Finalists will be selected by August 8, 2013.
For more details, visit the Detroit Jazz Festival website at DetroitJazzFest.com
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