2026 Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competiton

Jazz music is the sound of freedom and, no more necessary, than in these chaotic times. The Great American Songbook is the embodiment of this sound and has resonated around the world for over a century. In 2017 the non-profit Blues Alley Jazz Society adopted this songbook as our template, and as we navigated down the road to freedom, with songstress Ella Fitzgerald as our guide. Together we launched the Ella Fitzgerald international vocal competition to unite those disparate voices from around the world.

 

Along the way we attracted voices from every continent expressing both this sense of unity and freedom through the Great American Songbook. We enlisted the songbook authors Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern, and others who helped us to further mold our message. Our message was to perpetuate the jazz genre and our mission is to promote the Ella Fitzgerald legacy.

 

That was then, this is now, and look how far we have come. It is not that other nations do not know our message but that they do not understand the United States’ changing role in our cultural dynamic. This is why Ella Fitzgerald has come to symbolize what is good and decent about our country. Ella Fitzgerald truly epitomizes our American soul, our country’s good will, and our continued willingness to share our good will with others throughout the world. Our arms may be sometimes weak but our voices continue to remain strong.

 

This year’s goal is to strengthen our voices even further as we celebrate the musical mastery of George and Ira Gershwin. Separately and together, these two lyrical brothers helped shape much of our music over the past century. The Gershwins are considered by all the Great American Songbook legacy. Together they transcended song, dance, film, composition, and lyricism. Their contributions to the Great American Songbook are grand but Ella Fitzgerald’s contributions are definitive. These six selections reflect the next chapter of world-renowned competition:

 

• Someone to Watch Over Me

• My One and Only

• But Not For Me

• How Long Has This Been Going On

• Soon

• I’ve Got a Crush on You

 

In 2026 we will honor the 108th birthday of America’s “First Lady of Song” and we will honor her by selecting the “Ella Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook”. It is a definitive two-part collection of the memorable music that made them and her famous around the world. Originally released in 1959 on the Verve label, produced by the notable impresario Norman Granz, this recording has gone on to receive accolades and awards. Now it is our time to take a turn. The recording was arranged and conducted by the inimitable Nelson Riddle and comprised of an all-star orchestra of jazz giants.

 

Our past adjudicators have included:

 

• Rene Marie (2)

• Patti Austin

• John Pizzarelli

• Darden Purcell

• Tierney Sutton

• Jane Monheit

• New York Voices

• Vanessa Rubin

• Nicole Zuraitis

 

We shall begin the competition by announcing our first celebrity adjudicator Ms. Nnenna Freelon. Ms. Freelon is a singer, composer, arranger, producer, and educator. She has devoted her life to educating the next generation of vocalists and musicians as others have done unto her. Her body of work is immersive, expressive and expansive.. She will provide the roadmap for our next generation of vocal contestants: www.Nnenna.com.

 

Past first place winners are as follows:

 

• Dani Assis

• April Varner

• Julia Danielle

• Lucy Wijnads

• Melinda Rodriguez

• Erik Leuthaeuser

• Alyssa Allgood

• Clara Campbell

 

Our goal will be to solicit as many contestants as possible, adjudicate their audio submissions, select five finalists, and narrow that field to five finalists with only one first-place winner. Contestants will record in the key and interpretation of their choice.  Typical instrumentation is a backup rhythm section. The timeline  is as follows:

 

1. November 1, 2025: Opening Announcement

2. Audio Submissions: Between November 1st through January 31, 2026

3. Adjudication Review begins February 1st

4. Finalists Announced: Mid March 2026

5. Finalists Video Submissions Due: March 27, 2026
    

The five finalists will then be invited to submit video presentations with that cost underwritten by the Blues Alley Jazz Society or equivalent to Five hundred dollars ($500.00) per contestant submission. The five finalists will then be announced on Saturday, April 25th with our first prize winner performing alongside our featured artist, educator, and adjudicator on our world-renowned Blues Alley stage. Finalists will receive honorariums as follows:

 

• 1st Place Winner = $2,500.00

• 2nd Place Winner = $1,000.00

• 3rd Place Winners = $500.00