Congratulations to our 2024 winner Grace Rock!







Grace is a 19 year old musician from Omaha, Nebraska. She currently attends The University of Nebraska at Omaha as a freshman studying jazz studies. This next year she will be either attending Juilliard, Peabody, or Manhattan School of Music, all of which she has been accepted to. Grace has been involved with multiple programs including NYO Jazz 2023, Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo at Monterey Jazz Festival 2023, Brevard Jazz Camp 2024, Nebraska All State Jazz Orchestra (2021, 2022) and the Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra (2021, 2022). Grace currently works at Thompson Music in Omaha, Nebraska teaching students and selling instruments.



Grace has performed with artists such as Wycliffe Gordon, Sean Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gordon Goodwin, Willie Murillo, Jose Valentino, Tanya Darby, Ron Carter, Lakecia Benjamin, and others. she has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Village Vanguard, The Empire State Building, Monterey Jazz Festival, The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Konzerthaus in Berlin, The BBC Proms, The Jewell, and others. She has received awards like The Young Artist Merit Scholarship, Outstanding Soloist at UNO Jazz Festival (2021,2022), and was accepted to The Juilliard School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, Temple University, University of Southern California and The New School. Grace currently studies with both Christopher Leach and Andre Hayward, but has previously studied with Willie Murillo, Dr. Peter Madsen, Jacob Melsha and Jason Stromquist. She aspires to be a professional musician and educator.







Congratulations to our 2024 Runner up Camden Smith!







Camden Smith is a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying saxophone. He considers himself both a classical and a jazz saxophonist, and has played with many bands in the Midwest, such as the Pink Floyd Tribute Band, UNLs Jazz Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, Repertory Jazz Ensemble and many jazz combos. He is influenced by Paul Haar, Patrick Bartley, Cannonball Adderley and many others. This is also his second time making runner up for the NJOs Young Jazz Artist of the Year Award.