John Gilbreath Service Excellence Award

Save the Date: Inaugural presentation of the John Gilbreath Service of Excellence Award will be at the Earshot Jazz Benefit on October 12 at Town Hall Forum. 

Call for Nominations

The John Gilbreath Service Excellence Award honors an artist, ensemble, organization, educator, or advocate whose work reflects the following core values:

  • Longstanding commitment to the PNW jazz community

  • Commitment to artists’ advocacy, creating spaces and/or providing  exposure for their developing & expanding careers

  • Preservation and/or celebration of the historical origins and Black roots of jazz

  • Impactful vision and/or masterful programming that brings together  diverse communities

  • Wherewithal & tenacity at innovating the ever-evolving genre of jazz music

Honoring Legacy, Community, and the Transformative Power of Jazz

For over 30 years, John Gilbreath led Earshot Jazz, guiding it from grassroots to national recognition as a leading jazz institution. During his tenure, he presented more than 3,000 concerts across the region, forged enduring partnerships, and uplifted countless artists through creative, community-centered programming. His career was defined by a steadfast commitment to both the history and future of jazz—especially its Black American roots—and to the musicians and communities that sustain it.

Gilbreath created and curated innovative programs including the Sacred Music concerts, the former “Jazz in January” series at EMP (now, the Museum of Pop Culture), and the nationally recognized Earshot Jazz Festival. He hosted jazz radio shows for over 25 years on KEXP and KBCS, and served on influential panels for the the National Endowment for the Arts, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, where he championed Seattle artists and expanded access to national platforms. He co-founded the Western Jazz Presenters Network and hosted a stage at Winter Jazzfest in New York for 15 years, amplifying regional voices on international stages.

Under his leadership, Earshot Jazz joined two major national jazz networks, built a $500,000 endowment to support jazz in perpetuity, and established Earshot’s international visibility at jazzahead! in Germany and the Dutch Jazz Meetings in Amsterdam. Gilbreath’s work, often behind the scenes, laid critical infrastructure for jazz advocacy, artist development, and audience engagement in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

John Gilbreath Service Excellence Award logo designed by Sid Hauser Design.

Nomination Timeline

August 1–31, 2025: Nominations open

October 12, 2025: Award presented at the Earshot Jazz Festival

Award Benefits

  • On-stage award presentation at the Earshot Jazz Festival
  • A one-of-a-kind commemorative award
  • Feature profile in Earshot Jazz magazine
  • A $1,000 cash award

How to Nominate

Anyone may nominate a candidate whose work exemplifies the award’s values. Nominations require:

  • A nominee profile (300 words max)
  • A narrative (750 words max) addressing how the nominee fulfills all five core values
  • Optional supporting materials such as testimonials or press coverage
  • Contact information for the nominator

Submissions may be made online, by email, or by mail. Click here for PDF version. Earshot Jazz provides technical assistance to ensure the process is accessible to all.