Next Jazz Legacy Celebrates Five Years of Mentorship and Impact Across the Jazz Community

This fall, New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice (JGJ) mark five years of partnership through Next Jazz Legacy (NJL), a national apprenticeship and mentorship program built to elevate emerging artists and achieve true gender representation in the jazz field. The program’s mission is to increase opportunities for musicians who will contribute to a vibrant and inclusive jazz future, and to create waves of lasting change that benefit the wider jazz community. 

Led by—and modeled on the experience of—NEA jazz master, NJL artistic director, and JGJ founder and artistic director Terri Lyne Carrington, the program centers personalized apprenticeships that pair emerging artists with seasoned bandleaders and creative and business mentors. NJL also provides cohort learning opportunities, financial support, industry showcases, and mentorship from industry professionals. 

“Five years in, Next Jazz Legacy has shown what's possible when we invest seriously in mentorship across generations,” said Carrington. “I'm proud of what this community has built together, and I'm looking forward to welcoming a new group of artists into that legacy.” 

Since launching in 2021, NJL has grown into one of the jazz field's leading platforms for advancing the careers of rising jazz artists, not only because of the performance and financial opportunities, but also through the relationships and confidence developed during the program. By the end of 2026, the program's impact will include direct support of 35 emerging artists, 110 bandleaders and creative and business mentors, over 400 mentorship sessions, 21 cohort learning sessions, and 13 showcase performances. Awardees have performed at major festivals and venues including The Jazz Gallery and Winter Jazzfest in New York City, the Angel City Jazz Festival in Los Angeles, and the Mary Lou Williams Festival and DC Jazz Festival in Washington, DC. They have also worked alongside artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Nicole Mitchell, Marcus Miller, Regina Carter, and the late Wayne Shorter ’99H.

“Five years of Next Jazz Legacy is a testament to the importance of sustained support through not just money, but also mentorship,” said Vanessa Rose, president and CEO of New Music USA. “We're grateful to the Mellon Foundation for their support, and for Terri Lyne Carrington's vision and brilliant ability to foster lasting relationships among artists across generations.”

The intergenerational relationships at the center of NJL have continued well past each cohort year, with many of the awardees, bandleaders, and mentors collaborating professionally beyond the program’s scope. The program's impact on its awardees has been consistently strong: 100 percent of NJL awardees report growth as artists and performers, increased confidence in achieving their goals, and a stronger sense of belonging in the jazz community. Meanwhile, 86 percent of NJL awardees have continued their relationship with their assigned bandleader beyond the program and 71 percent have continued their creative and business mentor relationships.

Applications for the sixth cycle of NJL are now open, and will be accepted through October 24, 2026. Interested artists can visit the program's website for the latest application.

Additional details on this fifth-year NJL milestone are available in a press release from New Music USA.