WIJO Mentors

WIJO Mentors
Women In Jazz Organization is a collective of over 500 professional performing Jazz Musicians who identify as Women or gender Non-Binary. Largely a New York City-based organization, with connections to other individuals and groups nationally and internationally.

WIJO Mission Statement:
Women In Jazz Organization intends to help level the playing field in Jazz, so that women and non-binary people have equal opportunity to participate in and contribute to Jazz, leading to an improved and more rich, diverse, and successful art form. WIJO is committed to honoring Black Americans as the creators of Jazz.

WIJO aims to improve the experience of Women and Non-Binary People in Jazz through focusing work on three goals:
1. To empower individuals within the organization
2. To create an inclusive environment that fosters solidarity, connects, and strengthens the intersectional community of women and non-binary people in Jazz
3. To address inequalities in Jazz culture and on the Jazz scene

WIJO Mentors is a mentorship program designed to connect and enrich the community of women and non-binary people in Jazz. The program provides strong role models to up-and-coming jazz musicians and composers in a safe and supportive environment and offers a way for established jazz musicians and composers on the scene to actively participate in and help shape the future of their art form. Selected mentees will work with professionals serving as their mentors in a one-on-one setting to receive guidance on musical, career, and interpersonal skills, as well as having a once-in-a-lifetime experience to build a new relationship with an established musician or composer.  

The WIJO Mentors selection committee is looking for mentees who show strong artistic vision, a commitment to their musical growth in the area of jazz, and potential to contribute to the community of women and non-binary people in jazz.

WIJO Mentors 2021-2022 will run January 2, 2023 through August 1, 2023 and is a no-cost program for all selected participants.

Building on the success of previous seasons, WIJO Mentors will select an unspecified number of applicants. This change will not only ensure consistency and growth in the quality of mentor-mentee relationships but will also allow WIJO Mentors as a program to support its participants to the fullest capacity. 

WIJO Mentors consist of: 

• 2 private lessons, each at least 1 hour long
• 4 additional meetings or discussions, each at least 30 minutes long 

Mentees will also receive the following: 

• Work with their mentors on need-assessment and goal-setting
• Feedback from mentors on all their application materials 
• Invitation to all WIJO Mentors online and in-person events, including “meet & greet” sessions, workshops, master classes, and jam sessions
• Access to additional WIJO resources
• Contact information and connection with the current class of selected Mentees

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND EQUITY STATEMENT

WIJO is seeking and encouraging individuals of all backgrounds to apply for WIJO Mentors 2021-2022. We are committed to representing and cultivating diversity in all areas of this program. This commitment is present in all decision-making, including the selection of mentees and mentors. Diversity, inclusion, and equity will be a primary consideration in the review process of determining which mentee applicants are chosen to participate.

International Applicants: This program is open to all applicants, regardless of location, including students inside and outside the U.S.