Kristin Lee by Lauren Desberg
Applications Open for Presenter Consortium for Jazz
Chamber Music America’s (CMA) Presenter Consortium for Jazz program provides support to consortiums of three U.S. presenters that collectively engage up to three professional U.S. jazz ensembles (consisting of 2-10 musicians each). The ensembles may present in-person concerts or streamed performances for each presenter’s audience. Incentive funding is available to each consortium presenter project that includes one or more past New Jazz Works grantee ensembles to perform their entire CMA commission. Earshot Jazz has presented past recipients including Wayne Horvitz (2015), Steve Lehman (2016), and Jamie Baum (2022). To learn more visit chambermusicamerica.org/grants/presenter-consortium-for-jazz. Applications are due by midnight ET, October 19. Presenter Consortium for Jazz is funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Applications Open for WIJO Mentees
WIJO, or Women in Jazz Organization, was founded by Seattle-raised, NYC-based saxophonist Roxy Coss to address many of the issues that women and non-binary people in the jazz world face on a daily basis. WIJO Mentors is a mentorship program designed to connect and enrich the community of women and non-binary people in jazz and the selection committee is currently looking for mentees who show strong artistic vision, a commitment to their musical growth, and potential to contribute to said community. Selected mentees will work with professionals serving as their mentors in a one-on-one setting to receive guidance on musical, career, and interpersonal skills, as well as having a once-in-a-lifetime experience to build a new relationship with an established musician or composer. Applications are due by midnight EST, November 15. Learn more at wearewijo.org.
Auditions Open for More Music @ The Moore
Auditions are now open for the 23rd annual More Music @ The Moore, a paid training and performance program for young artists representing diverse music styles. This program provides musicians ages 14-21 with training and rehearsal time with professional musicians, collaboration with peers, production and promotional support, and the opportunity to perform in two collaborative shows at the historic Moore Theatre. Past musical styles have included everything from opera, hard rock, hip-hop, Japanese taiko drum, klezmer, folk, neo-soul, Tongan & Samoan, Vietnamese pop, singer-songwriters, jazz, musical theatre, steel pan, gospel, and more! Video auditions are due by 5pm PST, December 1. Visit stgpresents.org/ece/more-music for complete guidelines.
LANGSTON Welcomes Interim Executive Director
LANGSTON welcomes Ebony Arunga, as the interim executive director. Arunga’s journey with LANGSTON spans a lifetime. Raised in the deep richness of LANGSTON’s programs of her youth, Arunga has since served as a board member, launching the Seattle Artists Relief Fund (SARF) alongside Ijeoma Oluo and Gabriel Teodros in response to the pandemic, and now steps into a new role as interim executive director. While her tenure may not be forever, Arunga has no plans to waste her time. In a recent press release, she expressed her commitment to bolstering staff in accordance with their mission, vision, and values, launching a Black Artist Support Program, and, leading the search for LANGSTON’s next permanent executive director.
Last Beaver Session, October 15
On October 15, the north end’s Beaver Sessions celebrates its 9-year anniversary, which sadly also serves as its final session. The 200 Trio first got the session off the ground and will land it with the opening set that evening. The loss of this session is undeniable, but we offer our gratitude to those who worked tirelessly to maintain a welcoming space for artists in this city and hope, with baited optimism, for another to rise in its place. Head up to The Angry Beaver for these last couple sessions while you can!
Emerald City Music – Evolution of IMPROVISATION
The word “improvisation” has often been associated with the genre of jazz music but the art form has been the genesis to so many other types of music, including the classical genre. Join Emerald City Music (ECM) for their eighth season, with opening concerts on October 20 and 21 in Seattle and Olympia, respectively. This year’s theme explores the world of improvisation, putting the music of the baroque and classical eras alongside gripping jazz repertoire, showcasing the ways in which improvisation plays a meaningful role in all these works, across centuries of time and culture. The evening is co-curated by ECM Artistic Director/violinist, Kristin Lee and composer, producer, and bass player Anthony Tidd; a collaborator of myriad artists from Steve Coleman to Lady Gaga and The Black Eyed Peas. ECM is the Pacific Northwest home for eclectic, intimate, and vibrant classical chamber music experiences.
