The International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers, is  delighted to announce the due  dates and guidelines for the Rule Beasley Prize. The composer of the winning work will receive a $1,500 USD cash award. The winning composer will also be offered a 1-year JazzComposersPresent.com Annual Tier membership.

Eligibility:  The prize is open to all jazz arrangers regardless of 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.

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

Submission Guidelines:  Those wishing to apply for this prize should submit the following materials via the portal on the ISJAC website:

• Application Form
• Lead sheet in PDF format
• mp3 of best recording of the work

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

Applicants may submit one work only which must have been written within the last year. 

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

Dates:  All applications must be received by October 18, 2024. Late submissions will not be considered. Notification of the winning work will be made in December 2024.

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 and musicality. 

ABOUT RULE BEASLEY

Rule Beasley has enjoyed a rich and diverse musical career spanning seven decades. His journey in music began with his service in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1956, where he performed, composed, and arranged for the Army big band and wind ensemble. After his military service, Beasley became the Principal Bassoonist for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra from 1968 to 1973 and played with the Dallas Wind Symphony from 1993 to 1998, all while maintaining an active jazz performance schedule in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Beasley’s academic career started at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, before he moved to the University of North Texas, where he taught arranging, jazz improvisation, composition, and bassoon. Later, he relocated to Los Angeles and joined Santa Monica College, where he spent 20 years teaching theory, composition, and counterpoint until his retirement in 1993. Upon retiring, he returned to the Dallas/Fort Worth area and resumed his performance activities.

Throughout his career, Beasley composed over 30 original scores, which have been performed by various ensembles, including orchestras, bands, jazz groups, and chamber music groups across more than 20 U.S. states, as well as in England, Canada, and Switzerland.