WIJO Mentors is a program in its 8th season and designed to connect and enrich the community of women and non-binary people in Jazz. The program provides strong role models to up-and-coming jazz musicians in a safe and supportive environment, and offers a way for established jazz musicians on the scene to actively participate in and help shape the future of their art form. Selected student participants will work with professionals from around the world in a one-on-one setting. They will receive guidance on musical, career, and interpersonal skills, as well as having a once in a lifetime experience to build a new relationship with an established musician.
They will also get the opportunity to start building their own community and connect with a strong and diverse group of young women-identifying jazz musicians like themselves through specific in-person and online programming, jam sessions, artistry and music business centered events, community engagement events, and more.
WIJO Mentors is looking for mentees, ages 18-24 as of January 1, 2025 who show strong artistic vision, a commitment to their musical growth in the area of jazz, and desire to contribute to the community of women and non-binary people in jazz. WIJO Mentors 2025 will run from January 3, 2024 to August 4, 2024 and is a no-cost program for all selected participants.
Please note the following important program dates to consider when applying for the WIJO Mentors Program. Please note that attendance is mandatory for the listed program orientation and all workshops.
Oct 5, 2024: WIJO Mentors application opens
Nov 20, 2024: WIJO Mentors application closes
December 23-30, 2024: ‘23-’24 WIJO Mentee class announced via email correspondence
January 6, 2024: WIJO Mentors In-Person Orientation, NYC (Zoom link also provided)
January 9, 2025; In-Person WIJO Mentors Meet-Up @ JEN Conference, Atlanta, GA (*Optional event for those already attending the conference)
January 30, 2025: Artistic Cultivation Event
February 25, 2025: Music Business Event
March 20, 2025: Musicianship Growth Event
April 2025: WIJO Mentors Jam Session Take Over
May 2025: WIJO Mentors Benefit Concert
June 2025; WIJO Mentors Jam Session, NYC
July 2025: WIJO Mentors Culminating Event, NYC
August 4, 2025: End of Season, Deadline for Fulfilling Program Requirements
*Additional dates will be added throughout the season for supplemental events, including online zoom listening sessions, guest clinician sessions, wellness events, and more.
Please note that attendance is mandatory for the listed program events. Your attendance and prioritization of event participation in events as a WIJO Mentee is strongly encouraged.
Mentees will receive the following:
GUIDELINES
Applicants can choose to apply as either a vocal performer applicant, instrumental performer applicant,orcomposer applicant. If selected to participate, the applicant will be paired with a mentor in the category they apply for and organized into a community group with peers. Applicants can only apply in one category per season.
All performer applicants (both vocal and instrumental categories) are required to submit two video recordings of their playing in order to be considered for acceptance to WIJO Mentors. All composer applicants are required to submit both a score of an original composition and an accompanying audio or video recording of their composition.
DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, EQUITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
WIJO is seeking and encouraging individuals of all backgrounds to apply for WIJO Mentors 2024-2025. We are committed to representing and cultivating diversity in all areas of this program. This commitment is present in all decision making, including the selection of mentees and mentors. Diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility will be a primary consideration in the review process of determining which mentee applicants are chosen to participate.
ELIGIBILITY
In order to qualify to be selected as a mentee for WIJO Mentors, the applicant must:
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
1. Submit a WIJO Mentors online application form (through Acceptd)
2. Include all supporting materials in application (more detailed information available on application landing page through Acceptd):
*If you are a current student you can apply for a fee waiver or reduced cost of the application fee if you qualify for financial aid. This application will go through Accetpd. Please contact the Accetpd Help Desk via this link. If you're not a current student and need to apply for a fee waiver or reduced cost of the application fee, please contact WIJO directly at Mentors@wearewijo.org
This program is FREE to participate, if selected - there are no costs involved or expected from the mentee participants, once they are accepted into the program. There is a fee that is required to submit an application, in order to maintain the program and its related administrative costs.
Mentors will be paid fairly for the lesson time given through this mentorship, but all other time involved in the program, including building the relationships, is given on a voluntary basis.
SELECTION PROCESS
Please send us an email with any questions regarding the WIJO Mentors program or application process, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
WIJO Mentors Email: mentors@wearewijo.org
WIJO Mentors Program Director & WIJO Vice President: Tahira Clayton
WIJO Mentors Executive Assistant: Gabby Byrd
Q: Do I need to apply to be a Mentor for WIJO Mentors?
A: No, if you are interested in serving as a mentor for this or future seasons, please send us an email. We would love to hear from you!
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Q: Do I need to be a current student to apply for WIJO Mentors?
A: No. As long as you meet the age requirements AND can prove your artistic practice, you are eligible to apply.
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Q: I am already older than the upper age limit. Will you still consider my application?
A: Unfortunately, we cannot consider you for WIJO Mentors. However, we encourage you to become a member of WIJO and part of our larger community of women in jazz.
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Q: I am not 18 yet. Can I be part of WIJO?
A: Unfortunately, we do not have programming for the youngest members of our women in jazz community quite yet. But please sign up for our mailing list and keep in touch. We have plans for future programming for younger folks, and want to stay connected with you as you move further along into your musical journey. We hope you consider applying for WIJO Mentors in future seasons, when you are eligible.
MENTEES: Pictured L to R, Top to Bottom row: KC King (tenor sax), Florence Hughes (trombone), Marlena Boedigheimer (tenor sax),Anna Meyer (voice), Allison Young (alto/bari saxes), Kellin Hanas (trumpet), Mackenize McCarthy (tenor sax), Sarah McIntyre (trumpet), Adriana Tampasis (composition), Angelina Kolobukhova (voice), Jenna Reel (piano), Destiny Diggs (composition), Stephanie Tateiwa (alto sax), Anjelica Rose (bass), Kate Williams (composition), Alexandra Biancoviso (trombone), Stephanie Chow (guitar), Faith Quashie (voice), Emma Hedrick (composition), Sara Navratil (tenor sax)
MENTORS: Trineice Robinson Martin, Charenee Wade, Johnaye Kendrick, Rosana Eckert, Ayn Inserto, Marta Sanchez, Marion Hayden, Mariel Bildsten, Kalia Vandever, Bria Skonberg, Lessie Vonner, Caylen Bryant, Carmen Staaf, Camila Meza, Sharel Cassity, Maria Grand, Lisa Parrott, Camille Thurman, Gabrielle Murphy, Caroline Davis
MENTEES:
Pictured and Listed Alphabetically, Top L to R, each row, top to bottom.
Alexandra (Allie) Biancoviso (trombone), Anson Jones (voice), Bell Thompson (trumpet), Devon Gates (bass), Eliana Fishbeyn (composition), Emma Taylor (bass), Faith Quashie (voice), Katelyn Robinson (voice), Katie Carson (trumpet), Kellin Hanas (trumpet), Lauren Elliott (composition), Malin Carta (saxophone), Marlen Suero-Amparo (drums), Olivia Hughart (saxophone), Renuka Jayasinghe (saxophone), Stephanie Tateiwa (saxophone), Summer Camargo (composition), Yvonne Rogers (piano), Zandra Azoulay (drums), Courtney Wright (composition)
MENTORS:
Pictured and Listed Top L to R, each row, top to bottom.
Vanisha Gould (voice), Tomeka Reid (composition), Jennifer Wharton (trombone), Grace Kelly (saxophone), Janis Siegel (voice), Terri Lyne Carrington (drums), Shirazette Tinnin (drums), Carla Cook (voice), Lessie Vonner (trumpet), Helen Sung (piano), Nadje Noordhuis (trumpet), Christine Jensen (composition), Gabrielle Murphy (saxophone), Mimi Jones (bass), Chloe Rowlands (trumpet), Camille Thurman (saxophone), Allison Miller (composition), Marion Hayden (bass), Ayn Inserto (composition), Sharel Cassity (saxophone)
MENTEES:
Olivia Hughart, Malin Carta, Grace Frarey, Madeline Winters, Morgan Hurlock, Lael Dratfield, Lauren Elliott, Crystal Rebone, Hannah Dunton, Jahnvi Madan, Yu Nishiyama, Jhoely Garay, Sejin Kim, Naomi Nakanishi, Maya Keren, Anastassiya Petrova, Alice DeRagon, Sarah Irvin, Bell Thompson, Katie Carson, Summer Camargo, Shannon, McDougall, Emily Gelineau, Catherine Byrne, Joie Bianco, Yifei Zhou, Rachel Azbell, Elizabeth Sadler, Alaina O'Neill, Kassandra Charalampi, Rose Stoller, Dina DiMarco
MENTORS:
Alden Hellmuth, Alexa Tarantino, Melissa Gardiner, Karolina Strassmayer, Mercedes Beckman, Christine Jensen, Lisa "Paz" Parrott, Katie Ernst, Mary Ann McSweeney, Lihi Haruvi-Means, Erica Seguine, Shirazette Tinnin, Dida Pelled, Rachel Z Hakim, Roberta Piket, Monika Herzig, Angela Morris, Virginia Mayhew, Bria Skonberg, Barbara Laronga, Nadje Noordhuis, Shannon Gunn, Akua Dixon, Leonor Falcon, Kristina Koller, Aubrey Johnson, Brenda Earle Stokes, Lucy Yeghiazaryan, Lauren Lee, Noriko Ueda, Tammy Scheffer, Rachel Ekroth
MENTEES
Genesis Berrios, Anna Blackmore, Malin Carta, Kassandra Charalampi, Domi Edson, Jhoe Garay, Jess Goodrich, Sarah Hanahan, Morgan Hurlock, Malwina Masternak, Liany Mateo, Sarah Milligan, Yu Nishiyama, Anastassiya Petrova, Jade Saffery, Ella Jane Sharpe, Bell Thompson, Talia Rubenstein, Courtney Wright
MENTORS
Mercedes Beckman, Rachel Eckroth, Melissa Gardiner, Jocelyn Gould, Christine Jensen, Aubrey Johnson, Kristina Koller, Barbara Laronga, Virginia Mayhew, Elsa Nilsson, Nadje Noordhuis, Dida Pelled, Roberta Piket, Mayu Saeki, Karolina Strassmayer, Brenda Earle Stokes, Sumi Tonooka, Noriko Ueda, Rachel Z
MENTEES
Alexandra Ayoob, Bell Thompson, Diamond Anderson, Montana Heater, Jade Saffery, Liany Mateo, Jessica Goodrich, Malwina Masternak, Yvonne Rogers
MENTORS
Alexis Cole, Melissa Gardiner, Monika Herzig, Barbara Laronga, Roberta Piket, Lauren Sevian, Svetlana Shmulyian, Joanna Wallfisch, Rachel Z
If you have any further questions about the WIJO Mentors Program or application process, please send us an email.