The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., has announced the participants in the 17th annual Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead, which it describes as “the international jazz residency, performance and composition project discovering and presenting the next generation of jazz greats.” The program will be held March 23 to April 3 at the Kennedy Center, led by Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran. According to a press release, the program “identifies outstanding, emerging jazz artists/composers in their mid-teens to age 25 and brings them together under the tutelage of experienced artists/instructors who coach and counsel them, polishing their performance, composing, and arranging skills.” 

A total of 24 young musicians from the United States, Brazil, Australia, Denmark, Israel, Norway and Japan were selected by audition process. Artists joining Moran to lead the residency include pianist Cyrus Chestnut, saxophonist J.D. Allen, vocalist Carmen Lundy, trombonist Andre Hayward, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Eric Harland.

The 2015 BCJA program culminates in three concerts on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, April 1-3, at 6 p.m, in which the graduates will perform original compositions. The free performances are open to the general public, and will also be broadcast live on the Kennedy Center website and archived for subsequent access.

The young musicians who will participate are as follows:

Trumpeters: Aaron Larson Tevis, Alex Parchment, David Adewumi
Trombonists: Andy Clausen, Dillon Garrett
Saxophonists: David Leon, Drew Zaremba, Michael Casey
Guitarists: Felipe Vilas Boas, Lucas Kadish, Mark McIntyre
Pianists: Gene Knific, Guy Mintus, Miki Yamanaka
Bassists: Adam Olszewski, Alexander Tremblay, Ethan Philion
Drummers: Evan Hyde, Felix Heim, Matt Young
Vocalists: Amanda Ekery, Chelsea Lee-Smart, Mary Jean BrødsgaardMoore
Harmonica: Yotam Ben-Or