The International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers, in partnership with iJazzMusic, is delighted to announce the due dates and guidelines for the Wayne Shorter Jazz Arranging Prize. 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 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 
• Full score in PDF format (concert or transposed)
• mp3 of best recording of the work (MIDI realizations will not 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.

The prize is open to big band arrangements (5/4/4/GPBD + Optional Percussion) of Wayne Shorter compositions. 

Applicants may submit one arrangement only,  which must have been written and recorded 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 January 3, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered. Notification of the winning work will be made in February 2025.

Adjudication: iJazzMusic and ISJAC will each select two highly regarded, professional jazz composers tasked with reviewing all applications and awarding a winning arrangement. Non-winning arrangements may also be offered a publishing contract with iJazzMusic.

ABOUT WAYNE SHORTER

Wayne Shorter is a legendary jazz composer and saxophonist, celebrated for his profound impact on the evolution of modern jazz. Born on August 25, 1933, Shorter’s career spans over six decades, marked by innovation and excellence. As a primary composer for the Miles Davis Quintet and a co-founder of the seminal jazz fusion band Weather Report, Shorter has crafted an extensive and influential body of work. His compositions, such as “Footprints,” “Nefertiti,” and “Speak No Evil,” are considered jazz standards, renowned for their complexity, creativity, and emotional depth. Shorter’s unique compositional voice, blending intricate harmonies and adventurous structures, has inspired countless musicians and solidified his status as one of jazz’s most revered and pioneering composers. Shorter was inducted into the ISJAC Hall of Fame in 2019.