sisters in jazz
photo credit René Huemer & Cherie Hansson
SISTERS IN JAZZ
COLLEGIATE COMBO COMPETITION
APPLICATIONS OPEN
JULY 1 – OCTOBER 15
The Sisters in Jazz program was originally created under the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) by Marion Hayden, Diana Spradling, and Sunny Wilkinson to support young women in jazz through mentorship, performance opportunities, and education.
In 2018, the Jazz Education Network (JEN) established the Women in Jazz Committee and re-launched the Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo Competition, continuing the program’s legacy with a renewed focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA). Today, the initiative supports women and non-binary collegiate jazz musicians through a national audition process. Selected artists form a quintet, receive mentorship from renowned jazz educators, and perform at the annual JEN Conference.
Through this exemplary program, full-time university students identifying as young women or non-binary jazz artists ages 18-29 will audition and be selected to perform in the Sisters in Jazz quintet.
Applicants must be JEN members in order to apply.
You will be asked to login to your JEN member account to submit an application
Not a member?
2027 Sisters in Jazz Director
ANNOUNCING SOON!
2027 Sisters in Jazz Selectees will rehearse and receive feedback from a new director each year.
The quintet will prepare a selection of charts to premier at the 18th annual JEN Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, January 6-9, 2027.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15
Sisters in Jazz alumnae include such renowned artists as
Sara Caswell, Dawn Clement, Anat Cohen, Summer Camargo, Anne Drummond, Rosana Eckert, Tia Fuller,
Linda May Han Oh, Tina Raymond, Chihiro Yamanaka, and many more.
AND NOW, YOUR NAME CAN BE ADDED TO THE LIST.
All applicants must be:
- A full-time college student, concurrently taking a minimum of 12 undergraduate hours or six graduate hours
- A JEN Full Individual or eJEN Member
All applicants must submit the following by October 15th:
1. An application (submitted through getAcceptd.com)
2. Recording Submission: Preferred format mp3 (M4A or wav files also accepted)
- Four individual audio recording files of your best playing, total recording time not to exceed 25 minutes. (Video recordings not accepted.):
- a ballad
- a medium-tempo blues (swing)
- an up-tempo rhythm changes tune (swing)
- a straight eighth tune (Latin, rock, funk, or original composition)
- Vocalists and horn players: play the head, take several choruses of solo and take the head out.
- Pianists, bassists and guitarists: comp the changes or walk a chorus before soloing if not also accompanying a horn or vocal soloist and demonstrating those abilities. Using an existing recording that is not specifically in this format will be also be accepted, however.
- Drummers: Everyone should play “Now’s the Time” as the blues selection and play the melody orchestrated around the set on the head in and out. Blues and rhythm changes should include trading 4s or full chorus solos. One tune, either blues or rhythm changes should include time playing with brushes as well as sticks. If some individual tracks are longer and include several soloists, indicate on the application at what time trading or solo choruses begin on those tracks.
3. One letter of recommendation
- You will submit the email address of one recommender in your application.
- Upon submission of the application, they will receive an email with a link to upload the letter on your behalf to Acceptd.
4. A bio, resume, or CV listing pertinent musical experiences.
5. A headshot or photo
- File should be print quality (high).
- File types accepted include: jpg, gif, and png.
- Label your photo file as follows: LastNameFirstNameJENSIJPhoto
6. An official copy of college transcript or other proof of concurrent full-time enrollment in an accredited college, university, or conservatory (a minimum of 12 undergraduate or six graduate hours)
7. $35 application fee
The 2026 Sisters in jazz collegiate combo is sponsored in part by
2026 sisters in jazz selectees
past sisters in jazz selectees
2026
- Serim Kim – Piano
- Allison Young – Sax
- Blue Noyes – Drums
- Laura-Simone Martin – Bass
2025
- Maria Kolesnik – Drums
- Halimah Muhammad – Bass
- Tess Overmyer – Saxophone
- Marisa Cravero – Vocal
- Izzy Chase – Piano
2024
- Gianna Pedregon – Violin
- Jeongmin Ha – Piano
- Nanami Haruta – Trombone
- Marion Mallard – Bass
- Maria Marmarou – Drums
2023
- Destiny Diggs-Pinto – Bass
- Holly Channell – Drumset
- Kal Ferretti – Trumpet
- Lana Drincic – Piano
- Charlotte Lang – Sax
2022
- Molly Redfield – Bass
- Carmen Murray – Drumset
- Stephanie Tateiwa – Sax
- Yeeun Kim – Piano
- Summer Camargo – Trumpet
2021
- Jordyn Davis – Bass
- Minnie Jordan – Violin
- Megan Lock – Drums
- Alexandra Ridout – Trumpet
- Yvonne Rogers – Piano
- Samantha Spear – Sax
2020
- Domi Edson – Bass
- Misaki Nakamichi – Drums
- Maya Keren – Piano
- Kate Williams – Trumpet
- Zahria Sims – Saxophone
2019
- Colleen Clark – Drums
- Sarah Hanahan – Alto Saxophone
- Summer Kodama – Bass
- Marion Powers – Voice
- Franchesca Romero – Piano
2009-2018
- The Jazz Education Network (JEN), founded in 2008, formed the Women in Jazz Committee in 2018, and re-established the Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo Competition.
2008
- Ashley Baker – Alto Sax
- Christie Dashiell – Voice
- Judith Goldbach – Bass
- Julia Brav – Piano
- Shirazette Tinnin – Drums
2007
- Chelsea Baratz – Tenor Sax
- Sharel Cassity – Alto, Soprano Sax
- Vanessa McGowan – Bass
- Mika Nishimura- Piano
- Tina Raymond – Drums
2006
- Misty Boyce – Piano
- Caroline Davis – Alto Sax
- Lauren Falls – Bass
- Melissa Gardiner – Trombone
- Lorie Wolf – Drums
2005
- Lakecia Benjamin – Alto Sax
- Jacquelyn Coleman – Trumpet
- Delandria Mills – Flute
- Hanne Pulli – Drums
- Maeve Royce – Bass
- Carmen Staaf – Piano
2004
- Ariel Alexander – Alto, Soprano Sax
- Brenda Earle – Piano
- Maria Joyner – Drums
- Linda Oh – Bass
- Janelle Reichman – Tenor Sax
2003
- Kara Baldus – Piano
- Elizabeth Goodfellow – Drums
- Nicole Johaenntgen – Alto, Soprano Sax
- Jennifer Krupa – Trombone
- Ashley Summers – Bass
2002
- Renee Marie Cruz – Bass
- Alyssa Falk – Drums
- Becky Noble – Alto Sax
- Tineke Postma – Alto Sax
- Daniela Schaechter – Piano
2001
- Airelle Besson – Trumpet
- Laila Biali – Piano
- Karine Chapdelaine – Bass
- Tara Davidson – Alto, Soprano Sax
- Sandra Hempel – Guitar
- Kimberly Thompson – Drums
2000
- Brandi Disterheft – Bass
- Anne Drummond – Flute
- Lisa Kelly Scott – Voice
- Karen Teperberg – Drums
- Chihiro Yamanaka – Piano
1999
- Rosana Calderon Eckert – Voice
- Rachel Eckroth – Piano
- Tia Fuller – Alto Sax
- Karin Harris – Trombone
- Erin Marie Roberts – Bass
- Angie Tabor – Drums
1998
- Sara Caswell – Violin
- Dawn Clement – Piano
- Anat Cohen – Tenor Sax, Clarinet
- Loraine Faina – Drums
- Jodi Proznick – Bass
program coordinatorS
Sisters in Jazz Program Coordinator
ELLEN ROWE
Ellen Rowe, jazz pianist and composer, is currently Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan. Prior to her appointment in Michigan, she served as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut.
Ms. Rowe has performed at jazz clubs and on concert series throughout the U.S., as well as touring in Europe, South Africa and Australia. CDs out under her own name include “Sylvan Way”, “Wishing Well”, “Denali Pass” and “Courage Music.” Her latest project, “Momentum – Portraits of Women In Motion”, featuring Ingrid Jensen, Tia Fuller, Marion Hayden and Allison Miller was released to widespread critical acclaim in January 2019. The “Momentum” band will be featured at the 2022 Jazz Education Network Conference. Also active as a clinician, she has given workshops and master classes at the Melbourne Conservatory, Hochshule fur Musik in Cologne, Grieg Academy in Bergen and the Royal Academy of Music in London, in addition to many appearances as a guest artist at festivals and Universities around the country.
When not leading her own small groups, she is in demand as a sideman, having performed with a wide variety of artists including Kenny Wheeler, Tim Ries, Frank Morgn, Tom Harrell, John Clayton, Ingrid Jensen and Steve Turre. She was also a guest on two installments of Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” on National Public Radio.
Ms. Rowe’s compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by jazz ensembles and orchestras around the world, including the Village Vanguard Orchestra, BBC Jazz Orchestra, U.S. Navy Commodores, Berlin and NDR Radio Jazz Orchestras, London Symphony, DIVA and the Perth Jazz Orchestra. Many of these works can be heard on recordings including “Leave It To DIVA”, “The Perth Jazz Orchestra”, “Bingo” (The Bird of Paradise Orchestra) and “I Believe In You” (DIVA). A recipient of jazz ensemble commissions from the Minnesota Band Directors Association, Illinois Music Educators, Lawrence University’s Fred Sturm Jazz Festival, and the Jazz Education Network, her big band compositions are currently published by Sierra Music Publications, Doug Beach Music and Kendor Music.
Having been selected to conduct the NAfME All-Eastern and All-Northwest Jazz Ensembles as well as All-State jazz ensembles throughout the country, she has also been an invited clinician at the National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Convention, International Society for Jazz Composition and Arranging Symposium and Jazz Education Network conferences. She is on the Board of the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers and also serves as the Coordinator for the JEN Sisters In Jazz Collegiate Combo Competition. Other activities include serving as an adjudicator and mentor for the JEN Young Composers Showcase, adjudicating the 2019 Kimmel Center Jazz Residencies and Lincoln Center Ertegun Hall of Fame. She also serves on the faculty of the NJPAC All-Female Jazz Residency in Newark, NJ. In 2017 she was named a UCROSS Composer Fellow and awarded a residency at the Leighton Artist Colony at the Banff Centre for the Arts.