The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) announced the five finalists for the 12th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, known as the SASSY Award, to be held Sunday, November 19, 2023, as the culminating event of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival. The top five finalists are: Daryann Dean (Los Angeles, Calif.), Bianca Love (New Orleans, La.), Tyreek McDole (St. Cloud, Fla.), Ekep Nkwelle (Washington, D.C.), and Emma Smith (London, UK). According to a press release received by WBGO, NJPAC received more than 280 submissions from vocalists from 37 countries.
The five will perform before a live audience and a judging panel consisting of vocalists Jane Monheit, Madeleine Peyroux and Lizz Wright, along with Christian McBride and veteran producer/record exec Al Pryor. The event will be hosted by WBGO’s Pat Prescott and will also feature a performance by G. Thomas Allen, winner of the 2021 competition.
The first-prize winner will receive a $5,000 cash award, second-place $1,500, and third-place $500. The winner will perform alongside past winners and special guests at the Sarah Vaughan Centennial Concert hosted by Dee Dee Bridgewater on April 29-20, 2024, at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Past winners include Cyrille Aimée, Jazzmeia Horn, Ashleigh Smith, Arianna Neikrug, Deelee Dubé, Quiana Lynell, Laurin Talese, Samara Joy, Gabrielle Cavassa and Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim, G. Thomas Allen, and Lucía Gutiérrez Rebolloso.
Learn more here.
