Kurt Maas Jazz Scholarship

In 2025, the scholarship went to Laryssa Alves (bass) and Marlon Cordeiro (saxophone), both from Brazil.

From 9 June to 6 July 2025, they were invited to Munich as guest students, where they collaborated with students from the Jazz Institute in various workshops. They performed live at the Kurt Maas Jazz Award 2025 prize concert on 4 July at the Isarphilharmonie at Gasteig HP8, where they also appeared alongside special guest Danilo Pérez.

Read more: Kurt Maas Jazz Scholarship goes to Laryssa Alves (e-bass) and Marlon Cordeiro (saxophone) from Brazil

As with the first award of the scholarship in 2023, the Jazz Institute has selected two institutions in São Paulo as partners for the scholarship, both of which stand for innovative jazz education in Brazil: the Souza Lima – Conservatório e Faculdade de Música in São Paulo and the São Paulo State Music School – EMESP Tom Jobim. The Souza Lima Conservatório e Faculdade de Música, which works closely with Berklee College of Music, offers high-calibre jazz and samba jazz education. The São Paulo State Music School – EMESP Tom Jobim is a socio-cultural project that intensively promotes musical talent from a wide variety of neighbourhoods in the city. Internal competitions were held at both institutions to award the scholarship.

In 2023, the scholarship was awarded the Brazilian musicians André Kusmitsch (piano) and Feldeman de Oliveira Lacerda (trombone).

André Kusmitsch and Feldeman de Oliveira Lacerda were invited to Munich as guest students from 17 June to 17 July 2023, worked with students from the Jazz Institute in various workshops, and performed at the Kurt Maas Jazz Award 2023 winners’ concert on 12 July at the Isarphilharmonie in Gasteig HP8.

Read more: André Kusmitsch and Feldeman de Oliveira Lacerda first recipients of Kurt Maas Jazz Scholarship

For the first award of the scholarship, the Jazz Institute has selected two institutions in São Paulo that stand for innovative jazz education in Brazil: the Souza Lima – Conservatório e Faculdade de Música in São Paulo and the São Paulo State Music School – EMESP Tom Jobim. The Souza Lima Conservatório e Faculdade de Música, which works closely with Berklee College of Music, offers high-calibre jazz and samba jazz education. The São Paulo State Music School – EMESP Tom Jobim is a socio-cultural project that intensively promotes musical talent from a wide variety of neighbourhoods in the city. Internal competitions were held at both institutions to award the scholarship.