National Solo Jazz Competition

2025 ATW National Solo Jazz Competition Winners

Thank you to all of our submissions!!!!!!

National Solo Jazz Competition

Division 1 Finalists:

Jacob Martinez, University of Texas at Austin

Jordan Klein, Agoura High School, Agoura Hills, CA

Scott Schaffer, The University of Miami

Division 2 Finalists:

Nate Gilbreath, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Pablo Muller, The University of Miami

Richard LaRouech, William Paterson University

APPLICATION DEADLINE: DEC 1, 2025
Apply Here!

The American Trombone Workshop’s National Solo Jazz Competition is one of the most successful and popular jazz trombone competitions in the nation. This competition will provide valuable experience working through the competitive audition recording process, performing live for an attentive audience, and provide means to network with other trombonists and musicians. The winner of each division will be featured in concert with the U.S. Army Blues during the American Trombone Workshop in 2026.

Events

The National Solo Jazz Competition is scheduled to take place during ATW in 2026 at Brucker Hall. Those who are invited to the live rounds will bring three copies of the selections to be performed. Rehearsals will take place in the morning with performances in the late afternoon – schedule TBD. The winner of each division will be invited to play a tune with The U.S. Army Blues.

Repertoire

3 CONTRASTING SELECTIONS OF YOUR CHOICE
ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS ARE ENCOURAGED
CREATIVE ARRANGEMENTS OF STANDARDS ARE ENCOURAGED

GENERAL RULES & REQUIREMENTS

Submissions should be recorded live with a rhythm section and emailed in a digital format. Audio or video recordings are accepted. Recordings must be RECEIVED by December 1, 2025. Please remember that your submission will be received along with many others. Therefore, it is very important that you clearly and accurately include the following details in your email with your performance submission:

Name
Pieces
School Affiliation (if any)
Phone Number
Email Address

Submission Instructions

Email audio or video performance no later than December 1, 2025 to the competition coordinator SFC Luke Brimhall.

Competition Eligibility

Division 1: ages 21 and under (by the date of the competition)
Division 2: ages 22 - 29 (by the date of the competition)
Proof of age (photocopy of driver’s license, visa, or birth certificate) must be provided with the application.

Submission Guidelines:

Submissions must be uploaded to YouTube. Video Titles are to be set as: ATW National Solo Jazz Competition 2026, Name of category, Your name, Title of work
for example: ATW National Solo Jazz Competition 2026
Submit only one YouTube link per piece. If you have any problems with this please email the competition coordinator.
Submissions must be available on YouTube set to "unlisted" access, at least until results are officially released.
Submissions must include accompaniment if the piece requires it.

Recording Instructions:

There is to be no editing of any audio or video within a movement. Submissions do not need to be continuous in between movements. Feel free to record movements separately. Separately recorded movements must be combined and submitted as one YouTube video link.
If a piece does not contain movements it must be recorded in one take.
The performer has to be continuously visible throughout the entire performance.
Video must be recorded from a single camera position. If recording separate movements the performers must be in consistent positions.
All separate recordings of movements or works must be recorded in the same recording space. Failure to submit congruent videos may be considered reason for disqualification.
Be sure to carefully set mic gain levels during recording and utilize appropriate mic/camera placement when making your video. If necessary, normalize the audio before submitting. (Adjustment to the overall recorded volume of the track does not constitute as editing for nefarious purpose and will not disqualify a submission.)
"Automatic gain" features should be disabled on your recording device to allow for an accurate dynamic representation of the performance.
Video submissions should have audio and video properly synced. Out of sync audio and video may be considered reasons for disqualification. Make sure to preview your final video file before AND after you upload it to ensure that the video remains in-sync throughout your performance.
Insufficient recording quality may result in disqualification.
Include a link to your YouTube performance in the form.

Applications for the 2026 ATW National Solo Jazz Competition can be submitted via our new application form by using the embedded link on this page. Everyone must use this form. Application deadline is December 1st, 2025

Frequent Causes of Disqualification

Receipt of materials past delivery deadline (see above)
Editing of audio or video during the performance of a single selection

Apply Here!