The International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers, in tandem with University of South Florida and Distinguished Professor Emeritus Chuck Owen, is delighted to announce the guidelines for the 2026 Owen Prize, offered to young, up-and-coming jazz composers.

The prize is open to any student, age 26 or under at the time of submission, currently enrolled full-time in an accredited, degree-granting institution, regardless of major, age, or 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.

The arranger of the winning work will receive a $1,500 USD cash award. The winning arranger 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 student, age 26 or under at the time of submission, currently enrolled full-time in an accredited, degree-granting institution, regardless of major, age, or 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 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. You must credit the original composer whose piece you arranged.

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

 
Applicants may submit one work only 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, technical mastery, and musicality.

*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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