New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

NJ Jazz Society Adds Vocal Category to Its 2025 Scholarship Competition

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 02/12/2025

From left, 2024 Scholarship Winners Isaac Yi, Gabriel Chalick, and Joseph Foglia, photo by Sanford Josephson

The New Jersey Jazz Society is adding a Vocal Performance category to its 2025 Juried Scholarship Competition. The deadline for this year’s applications is no later than March 28 at 11:59pm ET.

There are now six awards: $1,000 for Jazz Performance; $1,000 for Original Composition; $1,000 for Vocal Performance; $500 for Jazz Performance; $500 for Original Composition; and $500 for Vocal Performance.

Along with the cash award, winners will receive guidance, mentorship, the opportunity to perform with an industry professional, and coverage in Jersey Jazz Magazine. For more details, applicants can visit njjs.org/competition for details.

The competition is open to all New Jersey college students currently enrolled in a college undergraduate music program and to New Jersey residents currently enrolled in an out-of-state college undergraduate program. For the latter, proof of residency is required.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



Judges will again be: Don Braden, tenor saxophonist/flutist, composer and educator; Ted Chubb, lecturer of music; Jason Olaine, Vice President of Programming at Jazz at Lincoln Center; and Mariel Bildsten, trombonist/bandleader and educator. Winners will be announced in early May and will be profiled in the June issue of Jersey Jazz.

Lasse Corson, 2024 Jazz Performance Scholarship Winner, photo by Sanford Josephson

Last year’s winners were:

* $1,000 prize for Performance: Pianist Lasse Corson, Minneapolis, William Paterson University

* $1,000 prize for Composition: Saxophonist Joseph Foglia, Raleigh, NC, William Paterson University

* $500 prize for Performance: Saxophonist Isaac Yi, Leonia, NJ, Princeton University

* $500 prize for Composition: Trumpeter Gabriel Chalick, Naples, FL, Princeton University




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



The New Jersey Jazz Society (NJJS) is a non-profit organization of business and professional people, musicians, teachers, students and listeners working together for the purpose of advancing jazz music. The competition is generously supported by Nan Hughes Poole, Cynthia Feketie, Mike Katz, and Jackie Wetcher.


EVENT PREVIEWS

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs presents Suzanne Vega - Flying with Angels on October 30, 2026 at 8:00pm (doors at 7:00pm). The concert will take place at the First Congregational Church (40 South Fullerton Avenue) in Montclair.

CarteretPAC presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band

(CARTERET, NJ) -- The Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. The legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock band began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the "Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack".

Outpost in the Burbs Presents Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips in Benefit Concert for Toni's Kitchen on November 21st

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs will present an extraordinary evening of music featuring singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. The special concert will serve as a fundraiser in support of Toni's Kitchen, the Montclair based nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity and related challenges in Essex County and beyond. Showtime is 8:00pm.
 

FEATURED EVENTS



Toad the Wet Sprocket: Rings: The Acoustic Tour

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ


Here Come the Mummies

Thursday, October 22, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ


The Sixties Show

Thursday, October 22, 2026 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ


Croce Plays Croce

Thursday, October 22, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ


Dead To The Core

Thursday, October 22, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ