The Worshipful Company of Musicians, who administer the Dankworth Prizes for Jazz Composition, announce that the 2016 prizes are now open for entries, and will close on 3rd December 2015. 

There are two prizes for original jazz compositions. £1000 for a composition for Big Band and £1000 for a composition for Small Ensemble (7-9 players). This year’s judges are Denys Baptiste, Tim Garland and Nikki Iles. The judges see the scores blind without knowing who has written the pieces.

The winners will be announced at a celebratory prize-giving concert at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance on 1st March 2016 under the direction of Simon Purcell. The prize is normally awarded on the night by a member of the Dankworth family.

Background: The Prize was established by British businessman, bass player and jazz enthusiast, Art Mead in 2007. The Worshipful Company of Musicians has administered the Prize on behalf of Musicians’ Company Jazz and The Wavendon Foundation since 2011.

COMPLETE LIST OF PREVIOUS WINNERS:

2008 James Hamilton (Leeds) Big Band.
Nicky Jacques (Birmingham) Small Band
2009 James Beckwith (Leeds) Big Band.
Matt Roberts (Leeds) Small Band
REPORT ON FIRST TWO YEARS

2010 Matt Roberts (Trinity) Big Band.
Yuriy Galkin (RAM) Small Band
REPORT

2011 Laura Jurd (Trinity Laban) Big Band.
Alex Roth (RAM) Small Band
REPORT

2012 James Opstad (RAM) Big Band.
No competition for Small Band
REPORT

2013 Daniel Thorne (WAusAPA) Big Band.
Tom Green (Cambridge & RAM) Small Band
REPORT

2014 Misha Mullov-Abbado (RAM) Big Band.
 Andrew Woodhead (Birmingham) Small Band
REPORT

2015 Chris McMurran (Trinity College, Cambridge) Big Band.
Ralph Wyld (RAM) Small Band
REPORT

LINK: Applications for the 2016 Competition