The Brubeck Living Legacy Prize Returns to Support the Next Generation of Jazz Artists.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Brubeck Living Legacy, in partnership with the Royal Academy of Music & ECN Music, has announced the 2nd edition of The Brubeck Living Legacy Prize, supporting the next generation of jazz artistsion

ECN Music has supplied the following press release;

The Brubeck Living Legacy Prize Returns to Support the Next Generation of Jazz Artists

Brubeck Living Legacy, in partnership with the Royal Academy of Music and ECN Music, is delighted to announce the second edition of The Brubeck Living Legacy Prize, continuing its mission to support the next generation of outstanding jazz artists.

Founded in 2019, Brubeck Living Legacy was established by the family of Dave Brubeck to promote awareness, interest and understanding of jazz and its role in American and international culture. The organisation continues the lifelong dedication of Dave and Iola Brubeck to music, creativity, education and the promotion of social justice through performance and outreach.

The inaugural Brubeck Living Legacy Prize was awarded to saxophonist and composer Kasper Rietkerk, whose album The Happy Worrier was released to critical acclaim in 2025.  The recording features John Parricelli (guitar), Tom Herbert (double and electric bass), Jonah Evans (drums) and guest vocalist Rebecka Edlund.

The biennial prize will again be awarded to a deserving jazz musician from the student body of the Royal Academy of Music in London, recognising excellence in both performance and composition. The award is open to students in their final two years of study in the Academy’s Jazz Department, as well as musicians in the first year following graduation.

The recipient will receive funding and professional support to create and release a recording delivered by ECN Music. The album will be produced by the company’s Artistic Director, internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist and producer Claire Martin OBE, while the team oversees all aspects of the project, including production, design, marketing, manufacturing and distribution.

Each award cycle carries funding of up to £7,000, supporting the full production of the recording. The winning artist will retain full ownership of the master recording created through the prize and will receive professional guidance in bringing the album to release. As part of the award, the artist will also engage with outreach and widening participation activities at the Royal Academy of Music, which may include workshops, mentoring or other educational initiatives, and will be supported in presenting an album launch event in London following the release.

Eligible musicians will submit an online application for consideration in June 2026, which will then be reviewed by a panel of music professionals. The judging panel for this year’s prize is Darius Brubeck (Brubeck Living Legacy), Nick Smart (Head of Jazz, Royal Academy of Music) and Emma Perry (Director, ECN Music).

This edition of the prize is dedicated to the memory of Martin Hummel, founder of Ubuntu Music, whose vision helped establish the original Brubeck Living Legacy Prize in partnership with Brubeck Living Legacy and the Royal Academy of Music. His commitment to nurturing emerging jazz talent continues to inspire this award.

Online application details via Royal Academy of Music

Brubeck Living Legacy: https://www.brubecklivinglegacy.com/

Royal Academy of Music: https://www.ram.ac.uk/

ECN Music: https://ecnmusic.com/

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