Dr. Billy Taylor, Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz.

Eligibility

Serious U.S. and international jazz musicians in their mid-teens to age thirty are invited to apply.

Applicants must be:

1. age 30 and under
2. proficient in English
3. dual composers and performers

Jazz Ahead alumni who have participated in two residencies are ineligible to apply.

The Kennedy Center will provide travel to and from Washington, DC; a modest honorarium to cover meal expenses; and lodging at a local hotel for all participants. There is no application fee or tuition. All applicants accepted into the program will be required to sign an Artist Agreement with the Kennedy Center that will include: possible release of a recording; permission to broadcast image and music over the internet; insurance coverage; and financial arrangements for the meal honorarium.

To Apply:

Applicant Information

Send the following information in this format:

1. Name
2. Mailing address
3. Email address
4. Phone
5. Birth date (applicants must be age 30 and under)
6. Instrument or voice part
7. Name of college/university/conservatory/high school
8. Name of Parent/Guardian with phone number (complete if under 18)
9. List of current jazz activities

Supporting Materials

Provide the specific items listed below:

• Five (5) identical copies of your application recording
• Five (5) copies of the recording playlist (typed) with song titles and composers
• Five (5) copies of your resume (one sided, no stapling)
• One (1) copy of birth certificate, driver's license or passport validating your age
• Optional: Five (5) copies of not more three (3) recent press reviews or articles

Application Recording Specifications:

Submit five (5) identical copies of a 20-minute maximum CD recording featuring performances by the applicant in a trio or larger group (no solo or duo allowed). Recordings must:

• Prominently feature applicant as soloist in each song (Pianists are encouraged to show their skills as an accompanist, as well).
• Be formatted for a CD player and not a computer.
• Adequately convey the composition and performance level of the applicant, but need not be of broadcast quality.
• Be labeled with the applicant name and instrument or voice type.
• Contain the following four (4) songs in this order:
  1. One (1) standard “All The Things You Are” (Kern & Hammerstein)
  2. Plus three (3) original applicant compositions
     • One (1) up-tempo swing
     • One (1) waltz, ballad or blues
     • One (1) medium swing

Application Deadline Is Friday, November 20, 2009

Applications postmarked after November 20, 2009 will be returned to the applicant.

Mail

Send Applicant Information and Supporting Materials to:

Questions?

Call Kennedy Center Jazz at (202) 416-8348 or email us at artsabroad@kennedy-center.org.