Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Melissa Almaguer (tap dance/feet percussion, multidisciplinary artist & educator) is a member of the 2025 Next Jazz Legacy cohort. Her bandleader is David Virrelles and her creative mentor is Susie Ibarra.
Next Jazz Legacy is a national apprenticeship and mentorship program designed to elevate emerging jazz improvisers. Operated in partnership with the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, funded by the Mellon Foundation, and led by GRAMMY-winning artist and NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington, the initiative increases opportunities for musicians who will contribute to a vibrant and inclusive jazz future.
Awardees receive a comprehensive support package including intergenerational mentorship, performance showcases at major jazz festivals, professional networking opportunities, and financial resources for creative and career development—helping secure a more equitable and sustainable future for jazz.
Learn more at: newmusicusa.org/program/next-jazz-legacy
Video by Mariana Meraz.
Melissa Almaguer (tap dance/feet percussion, multidisciplinary artist & educator) is a member of the 2025 Next Jazz Legacy cohort. Her bandleader is David Virrelles and her creative mentor is Susie Ibarra.
Next Jazz Legacy is a national apprenticeship and mentorship program designed to elevate emerging jazz improvisers. Operated in partnership with the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, funded by the Mellon Foundation, and led by GRAMMY-winning artist and NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington, the initiative increases opportunities for musicians who will contribute to a vibrant and inclusive jazz future.
Awardees receive a comprehensive support package including intergenerational mentorship, performance showcases at major jazz festivals, professional networking opportunities, and financial resources for creative and career development—helping secure a more equitable and sustainable future for jazz.
Learn more at: newmusicusa.org/program/next-jazz-legacy
Video by Mariana Meraz.
