2027 Next Jazz Legacy – October 24, 2026

New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice announce the opening of applications for the 2027 cohort of Next Jazz Legacy (NJL). Applications will be accepted through October 24.

Next Jazz Legacy is a national apprenticeship and mentorship program designed to elevate emerging jazz improvisers. 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 whole jazz community.

Next Jazz Legacy awardees receive a comprehensive support package including intergenerational mentorship from luminaries in the jazz field, performance showcases at major jazz festivals, professional networking opportunities, and financial resources for creative and career development—helping to secure a more equitable and sustainable future for jazz.

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 is the program’s Artistic Director. Next Jazz Legacy welcomes applications from musicians of all gender and sexual identities to achieve the goal of true gender diversity in the field.