June 26, 2013

BMI’s Acclaimed Jazz Composer Workshop to Highlight New Works at 25th Annual Showcase Concert on June 28

Media Alert

WHAT:

The Broadcast Music, Inc.’s Jazz Composers Workshop, a noted creative forum for musical exploration and development, will highlight the best new jazz compositions created during the last year at its 25th Annual Showcase Concert.

• The evening will feature a competition to choose the winner of the BMI Foundation’s 14th annual Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, which will be given to the writer of the best new work composed in the Workshop.
• The winning composer will receive the $3,000 Manny Albam Commission, named in memory of the Workshop’s co-founder and longtime musical director, to compose a new piece for the following year’s concert.

WHO:
The concert will feature the BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece modern repertory ensemble composed of leading New York musicians.

• This year’s judges include soprano saxophonist/composer and 2007 Guggenheim Fellowship recipient Jane Ira Bloom; premier jazz bassist and 2008 Guggenheim Fellowship recipient Rufus Reid; and multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson.
• The Workshop is led by internationally renowned composer Jim McNeely and pianist/composer/arranger, Mike Holober.
• Matt Holman, last year’s winner, will premiere his commissioned work at this year’s concert.

WHY:
The Workshop offers a unique collaborate environment for professional jazz musicians to compose for large jazz (big band) ensembles and underscores BMI’s commitment to supporting burgeoning composers.

WHEN:
Friday, June 28, at 7:30 p.m. Seating is first-come, first served; doors open at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Christ and St. Stephen’s Church (120 West 69 Street, New York, NY, 10023).

BMI’s impressive roster of jazz artists includes legends such as Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton and Charles Mingus, as well as today’s jazz stars like Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Norah Jones, Kevin Eubanks, Joshua Redman, Mark Whitfield and Bobby Watson. Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in more than 7.5 million musical works created and owned by more than 600,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers.

The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1985 to support the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions and grants. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation come primarily from songwriters, composers and publishers, BMI employees and members of the public with a special interest in music. Because both the Foundation staff and the distinguished members of the Advisory Panel serve without compensation, over 95% of all donations and income are used for charitable grants.

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Contacts:
Jamil Walker/BMI
212-220-3143; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)