The Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation is celebrating the excellence and opportunity inherent in Michigan’s college and university jazz programs. Where once jazz was viewed as an inappropriate area of study in Colleges and Universities, now jazz degree programs and ensembles are a central part of many music departments across the country. These programs are led by some of the leading jazz artists in the world and offer students powerful mentoring, valuable information, creative direction, and unique performance opportunities.

The 2025 Detroit Jazz Festival Collegiate Combo Competition presented by Central Michigan University seeks to reward those student musicians who have developed the discipline, artistry, and professionalism to thrive in this competitive and demanding environment.

AWARDS:
The winning combo shall receive:

• $2,000 cash award
• A paid performance slot at the 2025 Detroit Jazz Festival
• A paid performance slot at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
• Feature in the Detroit Jazz Festival’s 2025 program and website

ELIGIBILITY:

• This competition is for university and college jazz combos
• Application and associated audio tracks must be received by Noon (Eastern Time) on June 30th, 2025
• All members of the combo must be current college or university music students as of April/May 2025 (combos may contain students from different colleges/universities)
• Combos must be Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Septet, Octet, or Nonet
• All combos must provide contact information of a university/college music faculty willing to affirm that the combo is indeed made up of current university/college students
• Finalists will be notified by July 3rd, 2025
• All applicants must be available to perform, if selected, at the Finals:
  • Friday, August 1st, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm (30 min. set)
    • Live performances will take place at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe.
• All applicants must be available to perform, if selected, at the Winner’s performance:

• • Saturday, August 2nd, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 2 sets
  • Sunday, August 31st at the Detroit Jazz Festival, 60-75 minute set

• All transportation to and from the competition and performance, if selected, will be the sole responsibility of the artist. 

PROCESS:

• Each combo is to complete this application in its entirety (by noon, June 30th). Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• With the application, each combo will upload 2 audio tracks that highlight the best of the combo’s works and improvisation skills (each track should not exceed 7 minutes; edit or clip if necessary)
• Professional jazz artists will review the audio tracks blind and choose the top 4-5 combos who will perform at the Finals, where judges will be onsite.
• Finalists will be contacted directly by July 3rd
• Finals are:
  • Friday, August 1st 6:30 pm-9:30 pm  (30 min. set)
  • live performances to take place at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe