The International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers, in tandem with the University of South Florida, is honored to partner on the annual Prize for Emerging Black Composers, offered to young, up-and-coming, jazz composers and arrangers of color.

Previous winners have included Daahoud Salim, Michael R. Dudley, Roella Morayo Marie Oloro.

Applicants must be current ISJAC members. Not  a member yet, click here!

The composer/arranger of the winning work will receive a $1,500 USD cash award. The winning composer will also be offered a publication contract with iJazzMusic for international distribution of their work and a 1-year JazzComposersPresent.com Annual Tier membership.

Eligibility: The prize is open to any composer/arranger, age 35 or under at the time of submission, who identifies as Black, regardless of nationality.*

 There is no application fee; but all applicants must be full (paid) members of ISJAC. If you are not already a member, you may join here.

Submission Guidelines: Those wishing to apply for this prize should submit the following materials via the portal on the ISJAC website:
Application Form
Full score in PDF format (concert or transposed)
MP3 of best recording of the work (midi realized MP3 will be accepted)

The composer/arranger’s name and identifying information must be removed from the score and recording before submitting. Those with identifying information still visible will be disqualified.

This year’s prize is open to works written for any jazz ensemble instrumentation ranging from duo to traditional big band (5/4/4, GPBD with standard woodwind doubles and brass mutes).

 
Applicants may submit one work only (either an original composition or an arrangement) which must have been written within the last two years.

Works that have previously won ISJAC prizes are not eligible to be submitted again.

Dates: All applications must be received by November 1st, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered. Notification of the winning work will be made in December 2025.

Adjudication: ISJAC will select a panel of highly regarded, professional jazz composers tasked with reviewing all applications and selecting a single work they believe displays exceptional creativity, musicality, and promise.

*Please be aware that if the prize recipient is not a U.S. citizen, there may be additional government and transaction fees/taxes withheld.

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