BMI’s 36th Annual Jazz Composers Workshop Summer Showcase, held at Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space on June 20, featured a variety of band and jazz orchestra compositions created in the workshop during the 2024-2025 season, along with the presentation of two distinct awards to composer Michael R. Dudley Jr.
Musical Director Andy Farber and Assistant Music Director Alan Ferber hosted the night, with judging by a panel of esteemed jazz musicians and composers: Amadam Birnbaum, Dave Douglas and Scott Healy.
Throughout the event, the BMI/New York Jazz orchestra performed eight works, which included “Dust Storm” by Ben Morris, “Where is My Home, Mvt 1” by Migiwa Miyajima, “You Were You (But I Was Me)” by Arnie Sainz, “A Thoughtful Cat” by Jay Brandford, “Infidels” by Michael R. Dudley Jr., “Big Sushi” by Meg Okura, “The Sea is All Yours” by Naoya Ogura and “E.M.I.D.” by David Sneider.
After the performances, Michael R. Dudley Jr.’s “Infidels” was selected as the winning piece by the judges, receiving the Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize. Although Dudley was unable to attend in person, Ferber accepted the award on their behalf.
The BMI Foundation also awarded Dudley the $3,000 Manny Albam commission, named in memory of the workshop’s late founder and longtime music director, to compose a new piece that will premiere at next year’s showcase.
The evening concluded with 2024 Charlie Parker Prize recipient Takumi Kakimoto debuting his commissioned composition, “Chasing the Horizon.”
Events like these highlight BMI’s long-standing commitment to supporting the jazz community. Since 1939, BMI has supported the Jazz Composers Workshop and its members. BMI® stands as a global leader in music rights management as they advocate for the value of music and the creators behind it. The organization represents public performance rights for over 22.4 million musician works created and owned by more than 1.4 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Their open-door policy, established in 1939, set BMI apart as the only performing rights organization to welcome creators of blues, jazz, country and American roots music. Today, BMI’s extensive catalog spans all musical genres and consistently includes some of the most performed hits of the year.
More information on the workshop and its history can be found at BMI’s official website.
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