The first edition of the Malta Jazz Contest will give young Maltese jazz soloists the opportunity to perform in front of a distinguished foreign jury as part of the prestigious annual jazz festival.

The contest will be launched at this year’s Malta Jazz Festival. For almost 25 years, the festival has been raising the bar for jazz in Malta, keeping its soul alive.

Featuring names such as Grammy award-winning Robert Glasper, two-time Grammy award nominee Gerald Clayton, Grammy nominee Gregory Porter and multi-Grammy award winner and internationally acclaimed pianist and composer Michel Camilo, this year’s line-up will be no exception.

The contest, which will be held on July 21, is open to jazz soloists of Maltese nationality up to the age of 35; participation is free of charge.

Participants are to send a CV and an mp3 recording of a number from the jazz standards repertoire or an original composition to isabelle.gatt @maltaculture.com.

The results will be announced on July 21 after the contest. The jury will consist of foreign jazz musicians taking part in the Malta Jazz Festival.

The winner will participate in the Les Sons d’Une Île festival in Paris, organised by the Maltese Embassy in France. Return flights, accommodation and fees will be covered by the Embassy.

“This contest aims to afford them an opportunity as well as provide a European platform to showcase their talent,” said festival artistic director Sandro Zerafa.

The Malta Jazz Festival is supported by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and is taking place between July 18 and 20 in the open-air setting of Ta’ Liesse.

The deadline for submissions for the Malta Jazz Contest is on Wednesday.