Naoya Ogura Wins Charlie Parker Prize/Manny Albam Commission at BMI’s Jazz Composers Showcase

BMI’s 37th Annual Jazz Composers Workshop Summer Showcase, held at Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space in New York City on June 12, featured some of the best new big band and jazz orchestra compositions created in the workshop during the 2025-2026 season. The evening was hosted by Musical Director Andy Farber and Assistant Musical Director Alan Ferber and judged by a panel of esteemed jazz musicians and composers; Jon Faddis, Michael Philip Mossman and David Rivello.

The BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra performed nine works, including: “Change” by Sam Blakeslee, “Ballad For Today” by Michael Brorby, “Perceptions” by Amadis Dunkel, “Eyes Wide Open” by Arta Jēkabsone, “See You at the Next Corner” by Migiwa Miyajima, “Ghosts in Machines” by Arnie Sainz, “1621” by David Sneider and “Frontiers” by John Sturino. After an evening of incredible performances, Naoya Ogura’s “Paper Cups” was chosen as the winning piece by the judges. In addition to receiving the prestigious Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, the BMI Foundation also awarded Ogura the $3,000 Manny Albam commission—named in memory of the workshop’s late founder and longtime music director—to compose a new piece that will premiere at next year’s showcase.

The evening concluded with 2025 Charlie Parker Prize recipient Michael R. Dudley debuting their commissioned composition, “While You Still Got One.”

For more information on this renowned workshop and its history, click here.