Gerry’s Jazz Challenge

The Gerry & Franca Mulligan Foundation is inviting high school music students to compete in Gerry’s Jazz Challenge by playing “Out Back of the Barn”, a well-known Mulligan composition introduced by his sextet in 1976. Students are asked to post their performance on YouTube and then enter it in the competition. Contest rules and entry information can be found at gerrymulligan.com.

While Gerry Mulligan popularized the baritone saxophone as a solo instrument, students may submit their “Out Back of the Barn” performances on the instrument of their choice. Lead sheets are available at gerrymulligan.com, and free charts will be available to teachers for every instrument. An educational video for teachers is also available.

The best performance on a saxophone will be awarded the Grand Prize of a Selmer saxophone. Two first place winners will each receive $500; two second place winners will receive $250 each; and five honorable mentions will receive $100 each.

Entries must be received by April 30, 2021. The contest judging will begin on May 1 and will end on or about May 10. The winners will be announced on or about May 15. 

The Gerry & Franca Mulligan Foundation provides music education to young musicians, donates musical instruments to inner city schools, and perpetuates the memory of Gerry Mulligan by providing free unlimited access to the Gerry Mulligan Music Library to composers and arrangers.