IAJE Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Competition

Founded on the idea of women helping women to achieve success in a profession still dominated by men, the mission of the IAJE Sisters In Jazz program is to encourage and promote the participation of young women in the art of jazz, both educationally and professionally, through a mentoring program linking them with established women musicians.

The annual Collegiate Competition is an outgrowth of the mentoring mission, providing intensive opportunities for outstanding young instrumentalists and singers to meet more experienced female artists and industry professionals, perform before international audiences, engage in peer-mentoring, and learn some of "the ropes" of high-profile short-deadline ensemble performance.

College students compete via recorded audition to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to perform at the IAJE Annual Conference. Included will be rehearsal with and instruction from prominent jazz artists.

This year's conference will be held in Toronto, Canada, and Sisters In Jazz winners are expected to be available January 9-12, 2008. Five students will be selected (including one pianist, bassist and drummer), forming a jazz quintet at the conference.

Eligibility

Female full-time college music majors enrolled in college, university, conservatory, or music institute during the Fall 2007 semester.

Minimum credits registered for Fall 2007: 12 undergraduate or 6 graduate (or quarter equivalent).

Minimum age on January 1, 2008: 19.

Previous winners are not eligible.

Audition Requirements
Entrants may be accompanied by a rhythm section, play-along recording, or both. All applicants, including vocalists, must demonstrate improvisation on each selection.

Instrumentalists: “Bemsha Swing” –Thelonious Monk

Vocalists: “Have You Met Miss Jones” –Rodgers & Hart

An up-tempo tune

A latin, rock, or funk tune (straight 8th)

A ballad
Although it is not mandatory, applicants are encouraged to submit one original composition in either the up tempo, Straight 8th, or ballad category.

Judging Criteria Sound, intonation, time-feel, jazz vocabulary, artistry, and overall musicianship. The judges will have no knowledge of who the performer is while judging.

Application
All submissions must include the following:

EPK with a professional/high quality photograph (with or without instrument)

Above mentioned recordings

A copy of the entrant's Fall 2007 paid schedule (or equivalent) documenting enrollment in a minimum of 12 undergraduate or 6 graduate credits (or quarter system equivalent) at a college, university, conservatory or music institute

Proof of age

Two letters of recommendation

A camera-ready individual bio of no more than 100 words

IAJE membership

If you have a double instrument, please be sure to submit at least one audio track of the double instrument during the song upload portion of your submission.

If you are submitting for two totally separate instruments, the second instrument submission is free. You will see instructions on how to do this after you finish your first submission.