JAZZ EDUCATION NETWORK

Building, Inspiring, & Creating a More Inclusive Jazz World at JEN2026

PresidentS' letters

Hello everyone, I’m Jose Antonio Diaz, President of the Jazz Education Network. In just a few months, we’ll be together in New Orleans for the 2026 JEN Conference—but there’s a lot happening before then that you won’t want to miss.

 

As we continue preparing for our 17th Annual JEN Conference, I wanted to share some exciting updates and opportunities with you.

 

First up—our Annual Membership Meeting is on Thursday, September 11 at 5:30 PM Eastern. It’s virtual, so you can join from anywhere. This is where we’ll talk about the state of JEN, share our progress on key initiatives, and give you a chance to ask questions and offer ideas. Your voice is a vital part of shaping where we go next. Register here to join us for this meeting.

 

I’m also thrilled about the 2026 JEN Conference in New Orleans, January 7–10. Early Bird Registration is now open, but rates will increase on September 1, so don’t wait. We have four days packed with world-class jazz performances, insightful presentations, a vibrant exhibit hall, and special events you can’t experience anywhere else. And the evening concert lineup is truly something special—you’ll hear everything from outstanding student ensembles to legendary jazz artists.

 

Beyond the conference, there are so many ways to get involved right now:

 

• Midwest Pre-Conference Jazz Intensive – December 16 at The Midwest Clinic. A hands-on workshop for educators who want practical tools to build and grow dynamic jazz programs, led by some of the best in the business.

• Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation / JEN Jazz Research Fellowship – Apply by October 15 for a $5,000 grant to support meaningful jazz scholarship.

•Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo Competition – Deadline October 15. A national audition process that brings selected women and non-binary musicians to the conference for mentorship and performance with Terri Lyne Carrington and Ellen Rowe.

• Chick Corea Scholarship for Arranging – Apply by September 15 to showcase your originality and creativity in large ensemble writing. Winners receive mentorship, financial awards, and publishing opportunities.

•Educator Awards – Nominations are open through September 30 to honor jazz educators making a lasting impact.

All of these programs are designed to support you, your students, and the music we love. Whether you’re applying, nominating, performing, or simply showing up to cheer someone on, you’re helping keep jazz education strong.

 

So mark your calendars, get your registrations and applications in, and encourage your colleagues and students to get involved. I look forward to seeing you at the Annual Membership Meeting and, of course, in New Orleans this January.

 

Let’s keep building, inspiring, and creating a more inclusive and connected jazz world together. See you soon.


Sincerely,

José Antonio Díaz
President, Jazz Education Network

charlotte lang

Swiss/Dutch saxophonist Charlotte Lang was born in 1996 in Basel and studied the bachelor and master program at the JAZZCAMPUS Basel under the guidance of Domenic Landolf and Daniel Blanc. She is currently studying the Master of Music in Global Jazz at the Berklee College of Music in Boston under the artistic direction of Danilo Pérez. In addition she is part of Terri Lyne Carrington’s Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice.

 

From 2015 to 2018, Charlotte she was a member of the Swiss National Youth Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Christian Muthspiel. Since 2020, she became a member of the German National Youth Jazz Orchestra (Bundesjazzorchester Deutschland), under the direction of Niels Klein and Ansgar Striepens. She also plays is the Austrian FJO (Frauen Jazz Orchester→Women Jazz Orchestra of Austria).

 

In 2021, Charlotte founded her own Quintet the „Charlotte Lang Group“, for what she is composing, arranging and booking. In the fall 2023, her first album will be recorded and hopefully released by a renowned label.

 

Charlotte plays in the “Swiss Jazz Orchestra” and the “Zurich Jazz Orchestra”, the two professional Big Bands of Switzerland.

Charlotte recently got the unique opportunity to write a monthly blog for the Swiss Jazz & Blues Magazine called JAZZTIME, to tell readers about her time at abroad and specifically her time at Berklee. Her graduate program lasts only until the summer of 2023. She hopes to stay in the United States to enlarge her network and build her musical career.