Enter the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards

About the Award

The ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award (the “Award”) is granted annually to encourage talented young jazz composers during the earliest stages of their careers.  The Herb Alpert Foundation, a nonprofit, private foundation established in the late 1980s, makes significant annual contributions to a range of programs in the fields of arts, arts education and compassion and well-being.  Its funding is directed toward projects in which Herb and Lani Alpert and the Foundation president, Rona Sebastian, play an active role.

The specific rules and requirements of The ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards (the “Award”), including but not limited to, eligibility, winner selection process, and award criteria, are set forth below (the “Award Requirements”). These Award Requirements are supplemented by the general rules and regulations attached as Schedule A (the “General Terms” and collectively with the “Award Requirements”, the “Official Rules”), which are incorporated by reference.  By participating in the Award process, all entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of The ASCAP Foundation (the “Foundation”) and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”), which are final and binding in all respects.  To the extent not specifically defined below, all capitalized terms have the meaning set forth in the General Terms.


Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for participation in the Award, an entrant must be, at the time of entry, (a) at least 13 years of age; and (b) a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or enrolled student with a valid and current U.S. student visa (each, an “Entrant”). Entrants must also be under the age of 30 as of December 15, 2021.

One (1) Submission per Entrant.  If multiple Submissions are received by the same Entrant, only the first Submission entered by that Entrant will qualify for entry into the Award; subsequent Submissions entered by that Entrant shall be disqualified.


Award Period

The “Application Period” begins on October 15, 2021, and ends at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 15, 2021.


Submission Requirements

To be considered for the Award, Entrants must complete and submit an Online Application available at https://www.ascap.com/music-career/Competitions/youngjazz (the “Online Application”) during the Application Period.

 

The Online Application shall include: (a) a score/chart of one published or unpublished original work in the jazz genre (no arrangements) (the “Score”) and (b) an mp3 of an electronic realization or recording of the musical work ((a) and (b) collectively referred to as the “Submission”). If an Entrant is under the age of majority in their state, district, or territory of residence at the time of entry, such Entrant’s parent or legal guardian must complete and submit the Online Application on such Entrant’s behalf and complete and upload a copy of the signed Parental Consent form available as part of the Online Application.

 

The Submission must be entirely Entrant(s)’ original work (e.g. no sampling, etc.) written within the last three years of submission No co-written Submissions will be considered for this Award.

 

All uploaded Submission materials must separately bear the Entrant’s name.

 

Clearance of Rights: For vocal compositions setting text or a translation of text, Entrants must provide evidence that the text or translation is either in the public domain or, if still protected, used with written permission from the author or translator or the relevant representative (i.e., publisher or estate).

Please send all inquiries to:

Cia Toscanini, Vice President, Concert Music
Tel. 212.621.6329 • Email: [email protected]


Judging Procedure & Criteria

Each eligible Submission will be judged by a panel of ASCAP composer members based on the significance and overall artistry and compositional elements of the musical work or  composition. The judges are selected by the Foundation in its sole discretion.  Decisions of the Foundation and/or judges (including the selection of Award Recipient(s)) will be final and binding in all respects.


Prize and Award Ceremony

In accordance with these Award Requirements, eligible Entrants will be selected as the Award Recipients and will receive a monetary prize (each, a “Prize”).  The number of Award Recipients and the monetary distribution of the Prize resides within the sole discretion of the judges.  The total value of the Prize to be shared among the Award Recipients shall be determined in the Foundation’s sole discretion.  At the sole discretion of the Foundation, an award ceremony may be held to recognize the Award Recipient, the place and time of such celebration determined in the Foundation’s sole discretion (the “Award Ceremony”).


Notification Date of Award Recipients

The "Notification Date" is March 15, 2022.