Next Jazz Legacy: Mentorship for Emerging Jazz Artists Grant

Next Jazz Legacy is a mentorship program that supports emerging jazz artists through intergenerational mentorship, performance opportunities, and professional networking. Funded by the Mellon Foundation and led by renowned artist Terri Lyne Carrington, the initiative aims to provide a comprehensive support package to seven artists annually from 2025 to 2027. Awardees will receive financial investment, mentorship, and learning opportunities to help them thrive in their careers and contribute to a vibrant jazz future.

Next Jazz Legacy is a national apprenticeship and mentorship program designed to elevate emerging jazz improvisers. Operated in partnership with the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, funded by the Mellon Foundation, and led by GRAMMY-winning artist and NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington, the initiative increases opportunities for musicians who will contribute to a vibrant and inclusive jazz future.
Awardees receive a comprehensive support package including intergenerational mentorship, performance showcases at major jazz festivals, professional networking opportunities, and financial resources for creative and career development—helping secure a more equitable and sustainable future for jazz.
What Next Jazz Legacy Offers
The Next Jazz Legacy program combines individual and group learning opportunities with financial support and promotion. Our focus is emerging artists who are at a pivotal stage in the early phase of their career as professional artists. The awardees will benefit from the following:
Apprenticeship: learning by doing - performances under the stewardship of a master bandleader. Each awardee will be matched with a bandleader.Creative and Business Mentorship: knowledge and guidance, passed from one generation to the next, from both artists and industry professionals. Each awardee will be matched with a creative mentor and a business mentor.Cohort Learning Sessions (4 per cycle): an opportunity for awardees to learn together, exchange ideas and build a professional network under the guidance of Terri Lyne Carrington and selected guest speakers (1) Berklee Online learning course provided by the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Empowerment and promotion: experience for awardees to present and communicate about their music via showcases developed in collaboration with partner presenters, and artist profile films.
Financial investment: one $10,000 grant per awardee, which enables awardees to invest in the next stages of their career. Once selected, awardees will be asked to propose how they would use their grant to cover specific costs that would contribute to their career development. This will be signed off by the NJL project team. Awardees can consult with their business mentor for advice on best usage of funds.

Eligibility

An emerging artist with substantial professional experience 21-35 years old Based in the US or a US territory Available for full participation in the program between from January 2026 - January 2027

Ineligibility

At this time, this program will not consider supporting artists who are:  Enrolled in an academic institution at any time during the duration of the program  Contracted with a third-party recording companyBased outside of the US  Not able to demonstrate their need for this program