Grow your talent. Build your tribe. Lead your future.
Since 2005, the Jazz Links Student Council has been a space for young Chicago musicians to grow not just as performers, but as leaders, collaborators, and artists in their own right. It’s where musicians become artists through live performance, real mentorship, and hands-on workshops with professionals across Chicago’s jazz scene.

From the classroom to the stage, members gain experience performing across the city and access to professional development opportunities that go far beyond the bandstand. It’s a training ground for tomorrow’s jazz leaders — and a launchpad for those ready to take their artistry to the next level.

From mentorship to the main stage.
The Emerging Artists Project is the culminating experience for members of the Jazz Links Student Council — a capstone program that gives young musicians the tools, support, and spotlight to step into their future as professional artists.

Participants form their own ensembles, choose a name, build a set list, and perform at venues throughout Chicago, gaining firsthand experience in what it means to be a working musician. It’s not just about playing the music - it’s about leading the band, owning your identity, and building a presence in the city’s cultural landscape.

Open to Chicago-area students in grades 6–12
Applications required
New members are accepted year-round

Where young musicians find their voice — live and on stage.
Once a month, the Jazz Links Jam Sessions turn the legendary Jazz Showcase into a training ground for the next wave of jazz talent. Student musicians ages 9 to 19 sign up, call a tune, and take the stage alongside world-class professionals in the Jazz Links house band — building skills, confidence, and community in real time.

Whether you’re jamming, cheering from the crowd, or just soaking up the sound, you’ll witness something special: young artists learning by doing — one solo, one standard, one spark at a time.

Free and open to the public
Hosted at the Jazz Showcase (806 S. Plymouth Ct.)
5:00–7:00 PM monthly
Sign up on site; bring your instrument & a list of jazz standards you know

Each year, the Kiewit-Wang Mentorship Award honors a select group of high school jazz musicians who demonstrate exceptional promise, dedication, and musical growth. Awardees receive ten free private lessons with a professional jazz musician of their choice, creating a deeply personal learning experience rooted in trust, artistry, and tradition.

Since the program began, more than 30 student artists have trained with some of Chicago’s most acclaimed musicians, including Ari Brown, Nicole Mitchell, Junius Paul, Bethany Pickens, and Bobby Broom. This award represents more than lessons — it’s about passing the torch.

At the Jazz Institute of Chicago, we believe mentorship isn’t a side offering — it’s the heartbeat of jazz. That belief lives at the center of the Kiewit-Wang Mentorship Award.

Open to Chicago-area students in grades 8–11 at the time of application
Applications and auditions required (held in the spring)
Recipients must be or become members of the Jazz Links Student Council for the academic year of the award

Professional development with a view.
HEP is a continuing education series hosted inside the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s suite at the historic Fine Arts Building, with panoramic views of Lake Michigan and Buckingham Fountain. These intimate masterclasses foster growth, networking, and creative exchange among music educators, Jazz Institute members, and Jazz Links affiliates.

Designed primarily for music educators (but open to others), HEP sessions offer the opportunity to earn professional development units while deepening your understanding of jazz in a one-of-a-kind setting.

For music educators, JIC members, and Jazz Links affiliates
Registration required
Recommended for ages 16+

Advocating for jazz — from the classroom to the stage.
Noteworthy is a one-of-a-kind jazz ensemble made up of Chicago Public School music teachers who gather to rehearse, perform, and advocate for jazz in public schools. Featured at the Illinois Music Educators Association Conference, Millennium Park, South Shore Cultural Center, and Buddy Guy’s Legends, this ensemble gives educators a space to practice what they teach while staying artistically inspired.

Members of Noteworthy also serve on the Jazz Links Teacher’s Advisory Council, a year-round professional network that helps design student programs, strengthen music education across the city, and champion the role of jazz in CPS.

Open to CPS music teachers (active and retired)
Participation by invitation