Stanford Jazz Workshop Jazz Mentor Fellowship — Fellowship

Stanford Jazz Workshop runs this two-year fellowship for emerging professional jazz musicians who want formal mentorship, teaching experience, and practical training. Up to seven fellows spend two consecutive summers at Jazz Camp on the Stanford University campus, teaching students aged 12–17 while learning from faculty and visiting artists.

Fellows team-teach and teach independently, give private lessons, direct student combos, host faculty jam sessions, and perform in Stanford Jazz Festival concerts.

Benefits & funding

A teaching stipend of $500 per week for the three-week first summer.
A teaching stipend of $750 per week for the second summer.
A food stipend and housing in Stanford University dormitories.
A travel stipend for fellows traveling more than 300 miles.
Mentorship, teaching practice, and performance experience with Stanford Jazz Workshop faculty and visiting artists.

Eligibility

Applicants must be 21–28 years old when the program begins.
Applicants must be available for both summer commitments: July 8–August 1, 2026, and July 7–31, 2027.
Applicants must play straight-ahead jazz at a professional level.
Applicants should demonstrate a strong desire to teach young people, experience working with youth, leadership, collaboration, and teamwork.
The published criteria do not state a degree requirement.

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Age requirement
21–28 yrs

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Application process

1
Complete the linked application form.
2
Prepare a cover letter and a one-page résumé covering musical background, education or private study, teaching, recent performances or recordings, and honors.
3
Submit a teaching video of no more than 10 minutes and at least one lesson plan in PDF format.
4
Obtain at least two reference letters and prepare three audition recordings: a medium-tempo blues, a classic jazz ballad, and an up-tempo jazz standard or bebop tune; each recording may be no longer than six minutes.
5
Upload recordings and teaching samples to YouTube, Google Drive, or Dropbox, then email all links and PDFs to the program director by the deadline.

Program timeline

March 1, 2026
Application deadline for the 2026–2027 cohort.
Finalist interviews by Zoom.
Spring 2026
Results announced.
By May 1, 2026
First summer commitment.
July 8–August 1, 2026
Second summer commitment.
July 7–31, 2027
Next application period.
November 2027