Carolina Jazz Showcase

Each year, two students will be selected to participate in the Carolina Jazz Showcased through the Sharp 9 Gallery. Students may apply to participate in the Carolina Jazz Showcase by designing a project and submitting a proposal abstract to the committee of Professors Stephen Anderson, Rahsaan Barber, and Juan Alamo by February 15 annually. The committee will review all submissions and select the strongest two proposals. Participants will be announced at the annual late spring concert of the UNC Jazz Band. Students will give a preliminary presentation at the CJS where they will discuss their project proposals. They will have a calendar year to complete their projects before presenting their projects at the Carolina Jazz Showcase in April the following year. Each participant will receive a $750 fee for their services.

Projects

Grant applications may request funding to support projects selected from the following:

Composition project
Recording project
Research-based project
Performance-based project
Specific program, workshop, festival, etc.
Community Engagement project
Mentorship program with a distinguished artist, composer, scholar, etc.

Eligibility

Any undergraduate student involved in the study and/or performance of jazz at UNC is eligible to apply.
A graduating senior may apply for this award in the spring of his/her final semester. If selected, he/she would be expected to give a presentation one year later documenting the nature of the project and how the funds were utilized.
Students must be full-time students at UNC, but they need not be music majors.
Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply.
Students currently holding a research award or applying for other support are eligible to apply for the UNC Jazz Study Award.
Students may receive this award a maximum of two times.

Proposals

Proposals should be well-crafted and written using language that is suitable for an academic proposal. Please avoid language that is colloquial and not pertinent to the scope of the project. The following points should be addressed:

Identify the purpose and scope of the project/research. How will the project help you to grow as an artist?
How will the funding be utilized?
Discuss how you will present your work at the final presentation once the project is completed.

Timeline

Proposals will be due on February 15 annually.
The recipient of the UNC Jazz Studies Award will be announced at the annual spring concert of the UNC Jazz Band.

The Project Presentation

Carolina Jazz Showcase participants will give a final formal presentation at UNC (typically held in late April) approximately one year after having received the Jazz Studies Award. The presentation may take various formats based on the nature of the research or the scope of the project that is developed, but below are a few general guidelines.

Prepare a formal presentation approximately 30 minutes in duration that includes an explanation of the scope of the project and/or a performance of all or a portion of music composed/produced during the project (provided that it fits into the time-frame listed above).
Any media, such as Power Point slides, video, audio recording, or live performance that may illustrate the scope of the project is appropriate.
At the close of the presentation, we will allow a few minutes to invite questions from the audience concerning the project.
Please dress and act professional during the presentation.

Inquiries

Please contact Professors Anderson, Barber, or Alamo with any questions.

Past Projects

2021 Jazz Studies Award Winner, Jakob Bower

2016 Jazz Studies Award Winner, Tanner Willeford