Established in 1992, the Young Jazz Musician Award recognizes the best of the young talent emerging each year from the various colleges, universities and ensembles. Each year, six instrumentalists are shortlisted for the award (with a singers’ final also taking place in selected years). The shortlisted performers are drawn from nominations received from a very large and distinguished panel of jazz practitioners, which is made up of many major artists, the jazz leads in all the major conservatoires and universities, concert promoters, bandleaders, journalists, and other organisations such as NYJO and Tomorrow’s Warriors.  These young musicians must present a two-set public gig with only two hours’ rehearsal time.  They are then judged on individual creativity, musicianship, spontaneity, unobtrusive technical command, how much each performer ‘stimulates’ the next, and overall presentation.

In 2022, it was decided to rename the award to honour the memory of the first winner of the award, renowned vocalist Tina May.

Being a finalist is an achievement in itself, but the winner also receives prize money and other performing opportunities.  These include a guaranteed winner’s gig and have also included performances in the City Music Society, Watford Jazz Junction, the Mansion House and Thames Concerts.

The Company also welcomes individual applications for the award outside of this formal process at any time.  Applicants must be resident in the UK, and under 30 years old at the time of the competition (typically September each year).  They should submit a CV and covering letter indicating why they should be considered, plus the names of two respected referees from the jazz community.  Applications should be sent by email to the Deputy Clerk, Amanda Ratcliffe, at assistant@wcom.org.uk, no later than 30 March 2027.

Winners:
2025 Lucy-Anne Daniels voice
2024 Nico Widdowson piano
2023 Emile Hinton piano
2022 Fergus Quill bass
2021 Daniel Higham trombone
2020 No Award
2019 Sahra Gure
2018 James Davison
2017 Will Barry
2016 Daniel Casimir
2015 Adam King
2014 Moses Boyd
2013 Emma Smith
2012 Laura Jurd
2011 Lewis Wright
2010 Nathaniel Facey
2009 Shane Forbes
2008 Zem Audu
2007 Michael Janisch
2006 Jim Hart
2005 John Escreet
2004 Troy Miller
2003 Ben Hazleton
2002 Leon Greening
2001 Colin Oxley
2000 Tom Cawley
1999 Steve Brown
1998 Jim Watson
1997 Tim Garland
1996 Mark Nightingale
1994 Andy Panayi
1992 Tina May