JAZZ LINKS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
(CURRENTLY INACTIVE)
The Jazz Institute of Chicago Jazz Links Fellowship Program (JLF) awards two of the city’s up-and-coming musicians. The program offers opportunities to learn on-the-job with JIC mentors’ guidance, and performance opportunities across the city in communities underserved by the arts.
The Fellows receive advanced instruction, career development workshops, mentorship and teaching /arts education leading opportunities. The fellowship also includes performance and “learning by doing” real-world experience on the bandstand (in the fall or early 2022) in Chicago music venues, and community engagement – playing for the people in Chicago’s gardens, parks, schools and iconic neighborhood mural sites.
2022 JAZZ LINKS AWARDEES
ALEXIS LOMBRE and ARMAN SANGALANG
Selected Fellows will receive:
70 Total Hours of Mentorship with top Chicago musicians and music professionals including:
25 Hours with a mentor of Fellow’s choice
25 Hours with a veteran jazz educator
10 Hours of mentorship in Music Business and Finances
10 Hours of mentorship on topics of Fellow’s choice, which could include, but are not limited to: Performance and Production; Technical Skill, Technique and Personal Sound Development; Concert and Combo Production and Development; Club and Venue Relations; Arts Education-Teaching and Performance
Performance Opportunities:
3 Jazz Institute of Chicago Event Performance Opportunities
Spring/Summer 2022 Final Concert Series
Spring 2022 Scene+Heard Social Media Video Concert Series
2022 Mentoring and JIC Event Opportunities
Criteria & Considerations:
Ages 22- 30
6 months of Chicago Area residency before applying
Technical proficiency on instrument
Professional performance and teaching experience
Related school courses
Commitment and Outcomes:
Two Year Project Commitment
Year One -Stipend and related activities
Year Two – New fellow mentorships and school residency opportunities, JIC programming leadership
Summer 2022 On-Line Community Concert Series and Open Rehearsals
The Jazz Links Fellowship and the New Works Fresh Voices programs are supported by the Andrew Mellon Foundation.
2020-2021 AWARDEES
Camila Mennitte Pereyra
Percussionist Camila Mennitte Pereyra began her musical journey playing along to recordings of Jimmy Cobb and Oscar Peterson. Growing up in Argentina, Camila was influenced at an early age by Argentine and American rock music, as well as traditional Argentine folkloric music. Since moving to the United States, she has had the opportunity to work with Jeff Tain Watts, Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Greg Ward. By participating in the Jazz Links Fellowship Program, Camila aims to find her sound as an artist, as well as use her platform as an engine for social justice.
Facebook: Cami Mennitte Pereyra
Instagram: flammy_cami
LENARD SIMPSON
Lenard Simpson is a saxophonist, composer and educator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After completing high school, Lenard went on to pursue a bachelors in Jazz performance at Northern Illinois University. In 2018, Lenard was selected by a panel of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, James Newton and Ambrose Akinmusire to be a member of Thelonious Monk Institute Fellowship, which has since been renamed to the Herbie Hancock Institute. After finishing his master’s degree at the Institute , Lenard moved to Chicago where he remains an active performer and educator.