Big Sky

III INTERNATIONAL JAZZ COMPETITION FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS

Alexey Kolosov

The author of this project

Russian jazzman, composer and art director of various jazz festivals and special projects («Moscow Jazz Open», «Jazz Travel», «Baltic Jazz», «Russian-Norwegian Festivals» and etc)

  1. STATE

III International Jazz Competition for young musicians «BIG SKY» is organized by the «KolosovArtSteps» agency and J&M SCHOOL (St. Petersburg).

The duration of this competition – from 1 October 2019 to 1 December 2020.

The competition part will be finished 30 June 2020.

Finalists will take part in concerts in Europe (Italy) in the fall of 2020.

The mission of this project

  • Discovering and promotion of new names of young jazz musicians on the Russian and world jazz scene;
  • Innovations in management development in the music jazz industry;
  • Development of a high-tech web platform to promote young jazzmen;
  • Development, widening and strengthening of intercultural relations between Russia and the world community.

Competition «BIG SKY»-2020 helps to establish the successful start in career of jazz musicians. The competition is for young jazzmen from 18-28 years old.

The purposes and tasks:

  1. The popularization of jazz as an international language for cultural interaction;
  2. Discovery of the new talents in jazz;
  3. The establishing of the new cooperation platform for young musicians from the different parts of the world;
  4. The formation of the dialogue between young musicians and professionals taking part in the growth and promotion.

 

The «BIG SKY» is a unique competition because the jury includes the world-class representatives of music management (producers, promoters, directors of record companies, clubs and agencies).

  1. Regulations

2.1. There are 5 nominations in our competition: «The Best Vocalist», «The Best Instrumentalist», «The Best Jazz Band» (3-7 participants), «The Best Composer», «The Best Jazz Journalist».

2.2.  The competition is held in several stages:

The 1st stage – 01.10.2019 ‒ 01.06.2020 ‒ the extramural qualifying round.

The stage is held for foreign citizens and Russians living in regions remote from the center of Russia and not having the opportunity to come to intramural qualifying rounds in St. Petersburg or Moscow.

The participants should fill the «Participant Form» on official website of the competition (www.jazzbigsky.com) and send the video recording of their playing, no longer than 6 minutes. They should send it on email that you can find on the official website. After moderator’s checking of conformity the demands of competition, the video of participant playing will be uploaded on the website and official pages of our competition in social networks. Based on the content provided, the Expert Commission will select the best participants who will go to the final of the competition. The opinion of the spectators will also be taken into account.

The announcement of the extramural stage results – until 15 June 2020 – the announcement of the finalists.

The 2nd stage: 15-16 November 2019 – the intramural qualifying round in St. Petersburg. Semifinal

The stage is held for contestants living in St. Petersburg, the North-West Federal District of Russia, as well as for foreign citizens from the Baltic region (Poland, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia).

The participants should fill the «Participant Form» on official website of the competition (www.jazzbigsky.com) and send the video recording of their playing, no longer than 6 minutes. They should send it on email that you can find on the official website. The application must be submitted from October 1 to November 5, 2019. After moderator’s checking of conformity the demands of competition, the video of participant playing will be uploaded on the website and official pages of our competition in social networks. Based on the content provided, the Expert Commission will select the best participants who will go to the semifinal of the competition in St. Petersburg.

15-17 March 2020 – the intramural qualifying round in Moscow. Semifinal

The stage is held for contestants living in Moscow, the Central Federal District of Russia, as well as for foreign citizens of the near abroad (Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan).

The participants should fill the «Participant Form» on official website of the competition (www.jazzbigsky.com) and send the video recording of their playing, no longer than 6 minutes. They should send it on email that you can find on the official website. The application must be submitted from January 15 to March 1, 2020. After moderator’s checking of conformity the demands of competition, the video of participant playing will be uploaded on the website and official pages of our competition in social networks. Based on the content provided, the Expert Commission will select the best participants who will go to the semifinal of the competition in Moscow.

The 3d stage: Final in Moscow and St. Petersburg – summer 2020.

The semi-finalists selected during the extramural and intramural qualifying rounds are invited to Moscow and St. Petersburg to perform in the final in front of the professional jury.

In October 2020, the finalists will be invited to participate in the International Jazz Festival in Bari (Italy).

The organizers reserve the right to alter the dates and locations of the final concerts.

2.3. The age of participants: 18-28 years old.

2.4. Participants from all over the world are welcome.

2.5. In «The Best Vocalist» nomination the participant can perform in any language. In the final stage the participant program should include 1 jazz standard and 1 song from the participant choice.

2.6. In «The Best Composer» nomination the author will decide who will play his music but must not include more than 7 musicians from 18-28 years old. Every composition must not be longer than 6 minutes. At the final concert, at least 2 pieces written in different jazz styles should be performed. It must not to use the phonogram.

2.7. In «The Best Band» nomination the number of the musicians must be from 3 – 7 persons from 18–28 years old. In the final stage the participant program should include 1 jazz standard and 1 song from the participant choice no longer than 6 minutes.

2.8. In «The Best Instrumentalist» nomination in the final, the contestants are given the opportunity to perform with their team, or, on request, an accompanying staff of 5 people is provided. In the final stage the participant program should include 1 jazz standard and 1 song from the participant choice no longer than 6 minutes.

2.9. In “Best Jazz Journalist” nominamtion there is only an extramural system – a creative contest. The participants should fill the «Participant Form» on official website of the competition (www.jazzbigsky.com) and send an article on jazz music to the email indicated on the site. The author chooses the topic. The volume is no more than 1500 characters. The application should be submitted from January 15 to June 1, 2020. After moderator’s checking of conformity the demands of competition, the article will be posted in a separate section on the website www.jazzbigsky.com. Based on the content provided, the Expert Commission and the jury will determine 3 winners who will be invited to be awarded for the final of the competition, where there will be a certificate and prize in accordance with the terms of the competition.

2.10. The road, residence and meals expenses should be paid by the guiding side or by the participants. Organization of the stay is carried out by the guiding side or by the participants.

2.11. The organizing committee has a right to have the audio and video recordings of the competition and to place it on a radio, TV and mass media.

2.12. The organizing committee reserves the right, based on the consent of the processing of personal data, to name and use the names of participants in the coverage and advertising of the competition.

2.13. The finalist must not to take part in another concerts and events in Moscow during the final of the competition. In the case of contravention the participant will be disenabled. The participant can take part in the events arranged only by the organizing committee.

  1. The jury of the competition

3.1. The jury of the competition consists of the prestigious persons of jazz.

3.2. The jury will choose the winners during the open discussion and voting.

3.3. The results of the intramural qualifying rounds will be declared at the award ceremony after the semi-final and final concerts in each nomination.

  1. Awards

4.1. Each participant of the I round (extramural) receives a diploma of a participant in the competition.

4.2. Each participant of the II round (intramural) receives the title of participant in the competition.

4.3. Все записи конкурсных выступлений будут размещены на сайте конкурса и на Ютюб Канале название Kolosov Art Steps. All recordings of the competitive performances will be posted on the competition website and the YouTube Channel “Kolosov Art Steps”.

4.4. Competitors who qualified for the Final of the competition will be awarded the right to perform at the gala concert with jury members.

4.5. All finalists receive the title of laureate of the competition.

4.6. Winners of the competition will be invited to participate in concerts of the organizers and partners of the competition.

4.7. For “Best Jazz Journalist” nomination, the general information partner of the competition, Skolkovo Vision Magazine, established a special prize – a constant author’s column on jazz.

 

Phone for information: +7 (903) 162-20-99 – Anna Vavilova – the curator of working with participants.