JAM Vice Rector Monika Herzig nominated for German Jazz Prize with 'Jazz Girls Day'

Recent efforts to address social and pedagogical barriers for female jazz instrumentalists have reached a new milestone: The Jazz Girls Day initiative, led by Monika Herzig, has been officially nominated for the German Jazz Prize 2026 in the category of "Music Education and Participation" (Musikvermittlung und Teilhabe).

For the past decade, Herzig—renowned pianist, composer, and Vice Rector at the JAM MUSIC LAB Private University —has expanded this movement internationally. A cornerstone of this success is the long-standing partnership with the Jazzwoche Hannover, where Herzig’s all-star group Sheroes serves as both mentors for the workshops and a featured festival act. This nomination by the German Jazz Prize underscores the project’s profound impact on fostering self-esteem and improvisational confidence among young musicians. The growth and joy documented in participant surveys prove that Herzig’s work at the intersection of artistic research and practical mentorship is setting new standards for the industry.

(c) Bethany Robinson