NEW YORK – The BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, a forum for musical exploration and development, will highlight the best new jazz compositions created during the past year at its 22nd Annual Summer Showcase Concert. The concert is free to the public, and will be held on Thursday, July 1 at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church (120 West 69^th Street) at 7:30 p.m. The concert will feature the BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece ensemble.  Seating is first-come, first-served; doors open at 7:00 p.m.

The evening will also feature a competition to choose the winner of the BMI Foundation’s 11^th annual Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, which will be given to the writer of the best new work composed in the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.

The winning composer will receive a $3,000 commission to compose a new piece for the following year’s concert. Named in memory of the Workshop’s co-founder and longtime musical director, last year’s Manny Albam Commission winner, Sara Jacovino, will premiere her commissioned work. Previous winners include Darcy James Argue and Rufus Reid.

The BMI Jazz Composers Workshop is led by internationally renowned composer Jim McNeely and offers a unique collaborative environment for professional jazz musicians with an emphasis on composition for the large jazz (big band) ensemble. The Workshop provides an environment where composers are free to explore new avenues in the creative process, while at the same time honing their skills.

About BMI

BMI’s impressive roster of jazz artists includes such legends as Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton and Charles Mingus, as well as today’s jazz stars like Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Norah Jones,Kevin Eubanks, Joshua Redman, Mark Whitfield and Bobby Watson. Broadcast Music, Inc.^® (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than 400,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works.

About the BMI Foundation, Inc.

The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1985 to support the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions and grants. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation come primarily from songwriters, composers and publishers, BMI employees and members of the public with a special interest in music. Because both the Foundation staff and the distinguished members of the Advisory Panel serve without compensation, over 95% of all donations and income are used for charitable grants.

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Contacts:

Jamil Walker/BMI

212-220-3143;jwalker@bmi.com

Robbin Ahrold/BMI

212-220-3130; rahrold@bmi.com