The Kiewit-Wang Mentorship Award is offered annually to a select few students who demonstrate potential and excellence in jazz musicianship. The award provides ten (10) free private lessons with a local jazz musician of the student’s choice. Since the program began, 34 young musicians have been mentored and inspired by professional jazz musicians, including:

Ari Brown, Steve Million, Willie Pickens, Ron Perillo, Robert Irving III, Rocky Yera, Ryan Cohan, Dennis Carrol, Jim Cooper, Dan Nicholson, Ken Chaney, Michael Raynor, Joan Hickey, Greg Ward, Nicole Mitchell, Junius Paul, Tom Garling, Scott Hesse, Ernie Adams, Marques Carroll, Greg Artry, Jr, Christopher Madsen, Michael Manson, Reggie Thomas, Bethany Pickens, Bobby Broom.

Our focus on linking the generations through mentorship is at the very heart of the nature and tradition of jazz and is embedded in everything that we do at the Jazz Institute of Chicago.