Applications Open for 2026 Next Jazz Legacy Cohort

New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice have announced that applications are open for the 2026 Next Jazz Legacy cohort, marking the fifth cycle of the national program. Backed by $1.25 million in renewed funding from the Mellon Foundation, Next Jazz Legacy (NJL) supports emerging jazz improvisers through mentorship, performance opportunities, and career development. Applications will be accepted through October 31.

Next Jazz Legacy is a national apprenticeship and mentorship program designed to elevate emerging jazz artists. With a mission to expand opportunities for musicians who will shape a vibrant and inclusive future for the music, the program seeks to spark lasting change that strengthens the entire jazz community. Awardees receive a robust package of support, including intergenerational apprenticeships, personalized mentorship, cohort-based learning, performance showcases, and an unrestricted grant to advance their creative and professional growth.

Launched in 2021, Next Jazz Legacy continues under the leadership of Terri Lyne Carrington, founder and artistic director of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice. Over its first four cycles, the program has built a powerful network of mentors that has included Bobby McFerrin, Nicole Mitchell, Chris Potter, esperanza spalding BM '05 '18H, Brandee Younger, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Marcus Miller, among many others.  

In addition to mentorship, Next Jazz Legacy awardees receive a $10,000 unrestricted grant, a one-year performance apprenticeship, access to peer-learning cohorts led by Carrington and other jazz innovators, and networking opportunities through partnerships with major cultural institutions. They also participate in a 12-week Berklee Online course and gain promotional opportunities, including artist profile films and showcase performances.

Since its launch in 2021, Next Jazz Legacy has impacted the careers of 30 artists, engaging 87 bandleaders and mentors, and growing its footprint in the jazz community. To date, the program has allocated $808,000 directly to artists, convened 358 creative and business mentorship sessions, facilitated 174 apprenticeship sessions, and organized 24 cohort learning sessions. The program also provides additional visibility through NJL artist profile films, panel discussions at Jazz Congress and BRIC JazzFest, and showcase performances at Winter Jazzfest, the Mary Lou Williams Festival, the Angel City Jazz Festival, the DC Jazz Festival, and more. 

“As Next Jazz Legacy moves into its fifth year, I look forward to building upon the program’s momentum by continuing to provide incredible emerging musicians with on-stage apprenticeship and mentorship opportunities,” said Carrington. “This focus on mentorship both on and off stage helps the growing community of Next Jazz Legacy awardees propel their careers forward and ensure a more inclusive jazz future, which will benefit all.” 

In a joint statement, Kate Dreyfuss, Marc Giosi, and Scott Winship, interim co-executive directors of New Music USA, said: “Thanks to the generous support of the Mellon Foundation and the visionary leadership of Terri Lyne Carrington, Next Jazz Legacy has become a vital platform that underscores the power of mentorship and intergenerational collaboration to advance the jazz field. We look forward to seeing the talented artists from across the US who will apply ahead of the October 31 deadline.” 

“Next Jazz Legacy provides an incredible opportunity to grow, collaborate with, and be mentored by some of the best musicians in the industry,” said April May Webb, a member of the 2025 cohort. “Through the program, I have been grateful to learn, expand my creative voice, and contribute to an evolving jazz community.” 

Previous Next Jazz Legacy cohorts have featured a wide range of emerging artists from across the jazz spectrum. Past participants are listed below.

• 2025: Alexandra Ridout (trumpet), April May Webb (voice), Brenda Navarette Guzman (percussion), Carmen Quill (bass), Chanelle Ignant (guitar), DoYeon Kim (gayageum), Melissa Almaguer (tap dance/feet percussion), Nora Stanley (saxophone)
• 2024: Amyra León (voice), Christie Dashiell (voice), Ciara Moser (bass), Eliza Salem (drums), Kanoa Mendenhall (bass), Nicole McCabe (saxophone), Yvonne Rogers (piano)
• 2023: Camila Cortina Bello (piano), Milena Casado (trumpet/flugelhorn), Liany Mateo (bass), Anaïs Maviel (voice), Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield (voice), Neta Raanan (saxophone), Anisha Rush (saxophone)
• 2022: Anastassiya Petrova (piano/organ), Ivanna Cuesta (drums), Lexi Hamner (voice/trombone), Keyanna Hutchinson (guitar), Alexis Lombre (piano), Loke Risberg (guitar), Kalia Vandever (trombone)

About Next Jazz Legacy

Next Jazz Legacy is a national apprenticeship program for diverse jazz improvisers, guided by the intersection of gender and race as a core principle. Its mission is to expand opportunities for musicians most underrepresented in the art form and to spark lasting change that benefits the entire jazz community. The program invests in its awardees through a comprehensive support package that includes intergenerational apprenticeships and mentorship, showcases, cohort learning, and a grant supporting both creative and professional development. Next Jazz Legacy is a partnership between New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, with funding from the Mellon Foundation. Grammy–winning artist and NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington serves as artistic director. The program welcomes applications from musicians of all gender and sexual identities in pursuit of true gender diversity in the field. 

About New Music USA

New Music USA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing new music in all its forms. Its mission is to nurture a vibrant and inclusive community for artists and listeners by supporting the creation, performance, and appreciation of new music throughout the US. Through responsive grantmaking; skill-building; mentorship and convenings for creators from all backgrounds; and platforms designed to connect music-makers with organizations and audiences, New Music USA works to ensure a thriving, connected, and equitable ecosystem for the music of our time.

About the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice

The mission of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice is to recruit, teach, mentor, and advocate for young musicians seeking to study jazz in a safe, egalitarian, and nurturing environment, with gender justice and racial justice as guiding principles. The institute is committed to the collective work of challenging systemic forms of oppression embedded in the art form. It believes that a cultural transformation is necessary, and that jazz itself will not reach its full potential until these issues are meaningfully addressed.