The 2007 Winners: Javier Santiago, Joel Friedman, Kevin Kay©Andrea Canter

Young jazz pianists will again compete for $2000 in scholarships sponsored by the Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education and The Schubert Club. The Fourth Annual Jazz Piano Scholarship Competition, open to students age 15 through 18, rewards excellence among students of America's great indigenous art form. Applications (including an audio recording) are due by noon on April 14th. Finalist will perform before a panel of judges at the Dakota Jazz Club on Sunday afternoon, May 18th.

The Jazz Piano Competition was inaugurated in 2005, with the awarding of three $500 scholarships-- The Marie Froelich Memorial Award, The Jane Matteson Memorial Award, and The David Paulus Memorial Award. In the third competition last spring three finalists were again awarded $500 scholarships—Joel Friedman, Kevin Kay and Javier Santiago. Following their final performances at the Dakota Jazz Club, Kevin Kay was awarded the additional $500 Performance Scholarship. In addition to the scholarships, the finalists were invited to perform at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival in June.

The Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education (DFJE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing jazz and education together. Originated in 1997 by Dakota Jazz Club co-owner Lowell Pickett and benefactor, the late Jane Matteson, DFJE provides jazz education and performance opportunities that encourage an understanding, appreciation and enthusiasm for jazz among young audiences and blooming musicians. Clinics are provided by some of the world’s best musicians and give young bands and musicians the opportunity to perform with and learn from the masters. In 2006, our student jazz community enjoyed visits from Los Angeles area high school musicians through the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Studies’ Peer to Peer Jazz Education program, including clinics in schools throughout the Twin Cities and performance with alto sax titan Bobby Watson at the Dakota.

Kevin Kay performs with Gordy Johnson and Phil Hey at the 2007 finals©Andrea Canter

The Schubert Club is a long-standing St. Paul organization dedicated to the promotion and performance of classical music. Their annual International Concert series is well-known for its roster of the very finest classical musicians and ensembles. Additionally, the Schubert Club hosts small series of concerts throughout the year and, through several scholarship programs, promotes the education and performance opportunities for future professional musicians.

In 2005, the Schubert Club and The Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education awarded Felix James the first Jane Matteson Award for notable contribution to the local jazz community and/or jazz education. The second award was presented in January 2007 to renowned jazz broadcaster Leigh Kamman.

The Scholarship Competition
Young jazz pianists, age 15-18 as of May 18, 2008, are encouraged to complete the application for this competition. Competitors must submit an audio tape or CD containing three jazz tunes of their choosing to the Schubert Club Office by noon on April 14. Judges will blindly evaluate the recorded performances and rank competitors to select three finalists, who will be notified by early May. The three finalists (each of whom will be awarded one of the $500 scholarships) will compete before a panel of judges and a live audience at the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant on Sunday, May 18, 2008 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. (All applicants must be available to perform on May 18th.) Judges will provide their critiques to the audience and finalists after each performer. The Performance Scholarship winner ($500) will be announced at the end of the competition.

Rules: Highlights

Literature. Three jazz songs; the selected songs can be whole or partial compositions, jazz standards, self-composed works or improvised.

Performance. For the submitted sound recording, the three songs may be solo, accompanied or a mix of solo and accompanied, at the competitor’s discretion. For Finals performances, the competitors must perform the same three songs that they submitted on their sound recording; at least one piece must performed solo and at least one piece must be played with the provided ensemble (most likely a drummer and bassist). It is strongly recommended that performers choose pieces of contrasting style and tone.

Performance time. Submitted sound recording should be no longer than 30 minutes total. Finals performances will be limited to 20 minutes.

Sound recording requirements. Competitors must submit a sound recording of the three jazz songs. Recording may be in the following formats: CD, cassette, DAT. Video recordings are not accepted. Label the outside of the CD or tape case with your name. Do not put your name on the CD or tape itself. Your submitted CD or tape will not be returned. Sound recordings must be no longer than 30 minutes in length. Recordings of each song must be of the complete song and the recording of each song cannot be edited in any way. Songs intended to be performed with bass and drum accompaniment at Finals do not have to be recorded with accompaniment for purposes of the sound recording. Applicant must attest that the submitted sound recording is of the applicant’s piano performance and that the songs have not been edited in any way. Submission of the recording of any other piano player or an edited recording will result in immediate disqualification.

For a rule sheet and complete application information, please see The Schubert Club website: http://www.schubert.org. For questions and further information please contact The Schubert Club, (651) 292-3267.