Bridges Composition Competition
“In coming years, Bridges could serve to generate an ever-expanding repertoire of music for jazz trio and string quartet, a cause that both jazz and classical listeners can applaud.”
—Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune 2018 (Read more)
Listen to the Winning Works on Tuesday, June 6, 2023:
About the Competition
Established in honor of RSMI’s 30th anniversary, the Bridges Composition Competition ventures to “bridge” the genres of two of RSMI’s main programs—jazz and classical chamber music—through a call to young composers around the globe for new works written for string quartet and jazz trio.
Up to three winners are selected to receive the David Baker Prize—an award of $2,500 and the opportunity to workshop their composition with RSMI Jazz directors Billy Childs, Rufus Reid, and Steve Wilson. The weeklong session culminates in a concert in Ravinia’s Bennett Gordon Hall featuring the works’ premieres.
2023 Winning Composers
Benjamin Ring
“Mental Gymnastics”
Benjamin Ring is an award-winning drummer, percussionist, and composer based in Los Angeles. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California in 2019 and is currently attending the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA for his master's.
Brian Urra
“Faro de Luz”
Chilean violinist and composer Brian Urra blends jazz, soul, Celtic, and contemporary classical improvisation in his music. He is in his final year at Berklee College of Music in Boston pursuing a dual degree in jazz composition and performance.
Julien Knowles
“Tempest Quake”
Trumpeter and composer Julien Knowles was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Fresno, CA. Currently Knowles is the trumpeter at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at the University of California–Los Angeles.
Watch the livestream from June 3, 2022
Applications for Summer 2024 will open in the fall
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