Steans Music Institute

Steans Institute Bridges Competition Header

“It was a singular experience with amazing mentors in Billy Childs, Rufus Reid, and Steve Wilson and eight world-class musicians to work with. I will carry this experience with me for the rest of my career.”

—Julien Knowles, 2023 Bridges Winner

Submissions for Summer 2025

Deadline January 15, 2025

View Submission Guidelines

About the Competition

The Bridges Composition Competition invites emerging composers from around the world to bring fresh, creative perspectives to the intersection of jazz and classical chamber music. The rich connections between these genres are highlighted through the composers’ new, original works, scored to feature classical string quartet and jazz rhythm trio.

Each year, up to three winners are given the David Baker Prize, which includes a $2,500 award and a week of mentorship with Billy Childs, John Clayton, and Steve Wilson—the Bridges judges and artistic directors of jazz at the Steans Institute—to refine the music, also collaborating with the resident ensemble. The workshop sessions conclude with the premiere performance at the Ravinia Festival.

Past winners include Sam Blakeslee, Zach Bornheimer, Steven Feifke, Addison Frei, Jisu Jung, William Kjeer, Jean Knific, Julien Knowles, Michael Orenstein, Zachary Rich, Benjamin Ring, Brian Urra, and Gary “Kaiji” Wang.

2024 Winning Composers

Emiliano Lasansky

Boxes in the Attic

Born and raised in Iowa City, IA, and currently residing in Los Angeles, CA, Emiliano Lasansky completed his undergraduate studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and earned a master’s degree from the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA (formerly the Thelonious Monk Institute).

Zhengtao Pan

Mirror, Floating on the Water

Zhengtao Pan is a young musician from Shanghai, China, currently studying Jazz Composition and Composition at Berklee College of Music. He actively works in media scoring, arranges jazz tunes for jazz orchestras and bands, and writes concert music.

Jason Mountario

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Jason Gabriel Mountario is a composer, electric bass player, and mixing engineer from Jakarta, Indonesia. Graduated from Berklee College of Music in Bass Performance and Jazz Composition, he is currently a lecturer in jazz theory, band arrangement, and music production at Pelita Harapan University.