Hello JEN family. My name is José Antonio Díaz and it is an honor to serve as the President of the Jazz Education Network as we gear up for the 17th Annual JEN conference in New Orleans. Each year we come together to celebrate, inspire and elevate the global jazz community and I am thrilled to share a few exciting opportunities and updates with you.
First, early bird registration for the 2026 conference is now open. If you are planning to join us, this is the perfect time to lock in the best rate. Prices will go up after September 1st so don’t wait.
Next, I want to highlight the JENerations Jazz Festival, one of the most meaningful parts of the conference. It is a non-competitive, adjudicated festival with developing ensembles. Each group gets to perform 30 minutes and then receives a 30 minute clinic from a world class artist or educator. Plus every participant gets a full 4 day conference pass to enjoy all JEN has to offer.
We are also proud to announce that applications are now open for the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation / JEN Jazz Research Fellowship. This fellowship provides a $5,000 grant for jazz researchers working in any area of jazz scholarship. You have until October 15 to apply.
And finally, one of our signature programs, Sisters in Jazz, opens for application on July 1. This initiative supports young women and non-binary jazz artists ages 18 to 29 currently enrolled in college. Selected musicians will be invited to perform at the 2026 conference as part of the Sisters in Jazz Quintet; a life changing experience working with top professionals in the field. There is so much to look forward to and I can’t wait to see the incredible things our community will accomplish this year.
Thank you for your continued support, passion, commitment to jazz education. Let’s keep building a stronger, more inclusive jazz world together. See you soon.
Sincerely,
José Antonio Díaz
President, Jazz Education Network
