The tenth edition of the Conad Jazz Contest
Conad and Umbria Jazz, historic partners linked by their love for jazz, are launching the tenth edition of the competition, open to young musicians between the ages of 18 and 28. The Contest offers a great opportunity for the 10 finalist bands, selected by the online community and a technical jury, to perform on the prestigious stage of Umbria Jazz (Perugia, 7-16 July 2023), as well as cash prizes to support their careers the winners.
Registrations are officially open for the tenth Conad Jazz Contest, which has now become the most eagerly awaited annual event for young Italian jazz musicians, to be able to start their musical careers. Participants will have the opportunity to be evaluated by a jury of experts and to compare themselves with other emerging musicians. The Contest will also be an opportunity for the 10 finalist bands to perform on the prestigious stage of Umbria Jazz – an event that this year celebrates its 50th anniversary in Perugia from 7 to 16 July 2023.
To concretely support young jazz musicians and given the great success of past editions, this year too Conad has decided to support the new edition.
Conad Jazz Contest is a music competition for young jazz musicians aged between 18 and 28, soloists or groups, who aspire to have the opportunity to perform on the most coveted jazz stages in Italy. Starting 17 April and until 21 May 2023, aspiring jazz musicians free from current record or publishing contracts can register for free, uploading at least three songs from their repertoire directly on the website www.conadjazzcontest.it
Lots of confirmations and some news
There will be 10 finalists chosen from the bands and soloists entered in the competition who will be able to perform live on the prestigious stage of Umbria Jazz. As regards the selection of the finalists, a technical jury, chaired by Manuele Morbidini, director of the Umbria Jazz Orchestra and saxophonist-composer, will identify 9 of the 10 finalists. The popular jury, in turn, will elect the tenth finalist by registering and voting for free on the official website of the Contest via web or smartphone.
The 10 finalists thus identified will perform live in front of the public of the fiftieth edition of Umbria Jazz, and will be an artistic jury, composed of Paolo Fresu, internationally renowned trumpeter, Stefano Bragatto, Director of Radio Monte Carlo, Marco Molendini, journalist, and Manuele Morbidini, former president of the technical jury, to decree the absolute winner.
The winner will receive a check for 5,000 euros to support their musical career and a tour of live performances starting from UJ Weekend and then continuing with the Italian Jazz for L’Aquila, Umbria Jazz Winter, and some of the best-known jazz clubs in Italy. The special prize for the single most promising musician is confirmed again this year, for which a place will be reserved at the “Clinics” of the Berklee Summer School at Umbria Jazz 2024.
«Ten years of the Contest represent an important anniversary – comments Francesco Pugliese, CEO of Conad – because they are a confirmation not only of the commitment of the Conad system to promote culture and support young talents but also and above all of the prestige that the Contest has been able to earn over the course of these 10 editions through quality and credibility. Quality and credibility that Conad has always been committed to transmitting every day».
Promoting the dissemination of culture as a common heritage, both through the sponsorship of projects promoted by third parties and through initiatives carried out independently and directly, is part of Conad’s concrete sustainability strategy “Let’s support the future” based on three dimensions: Environment and Resources, People and Communities, Businesses and Territory.
Gian Luca Laurenzi, president of the Umbria Jazz Foundation, adds: «Umbria Jazz, now in its fiftieth edition, has not only marked the history of jazz in Italy and throughout the world but has also created, over time, a new transversal formula capable of embracing the most distant musical tastes and always maintaining an offer of the highest level. For 10 years we have been proud to unite the young talents of jazz and its contaminations in this embrace. We look forward to worthily celebrating this double birthday and who knows, launching new careers in Jazz, as we have already contributed to in the past».
Information and regulations are on the website www.conadjazzcontest.it
Registrations are open from Friday 17 April 2023 to Wednesday 21 May 2023.
Online voting starts May 22, 2023.
