If there is strength in numbers, the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music is dominating the 2026 Herbie Hancock Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition. Three of just five American singers from this year’s 11 Hancock semi-finalists are Frost School jazz vocal alumnae: Ashley Pezzotti from the class of 2018, and 2023 graduates Joie Bianco and Kate Kortum. They will compete in the semi-final round in Paris on Oct. 10, aiming to be among the winners on Oct. 11.
The Hancock competition spotlights a different musical instrument every year, and singing is up in the rotation for 2026. Named the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Competition until a 2019 rebranding, the contest is one of the most important in jazz and a key showcase for rising young talent.
Kate Reid, a Frost School alumna who is director of the school's Jazz Vocal Performance program, would know. After reaching the semi-final round in 1998, she was able to use her showing as a springboard to a solid session singing career before returning to the Frost School 14 years ago as an associate professor.
“The selection process for Hancock is more in-depth than most competitions,” said Reid. “It’s not just one or two recordings—there are three levels of performing rounds before the finalist is chosen. The opportunity to show your in-person, in-the-moment artistry is very special.”
Frost School alumni and faculty have a long history of success in the Hancock competition. In addition to Reid, professor John Daversa, the chair of the Studio Music and Jazz program, also reached semi-final status in the trumpet category in 1997.
As for alumni, pianist Emmet Cohen (B.A. ’12) has gone on to fame with his online concert series “Live From Emmet’s Place” after winning third place in 2011. Connor Rohrer (B.A. ’24), a second-place winner in 2023, is the pianist in GRAMMY-winning singer Samara Joy’s band. And jazz vocal alumna Veronica Swift (B.A. ’16) has had an outstanding recording and performance career since winning second place in 2015.
This year’s Frost School semi-finalists are also much acclaimed. Pezzotti has already earned plaudits for her recordings and performances at last year’s Centennial Celebration Concert for the Frost School and the University of Miami, and with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Kortum (who also won last year’s Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition) has a friendly history with fellow 2023 Frost School graduate Bianco—who won best solo jazz vocalist in the 2023 DownBeat Student Music Awards, and sings with Kortum in the New York vocal trio Sunhouse Singers.
“Those two entered school the same year, became close friends and remained tight when they left,” said Reid. “They were very talented and hungry, wanted to establish themselves, and worked very hard. And when Ashley came into school, she already had tremendous vocal maturity with what we call ‘big ears.’ I’m very proud of all three of them.”
While success in high-profile competitions is a great feather in the cap for everyone involved, Reid says the right way to look at them is as a means to an end rather than an end in themselves.
“Competitions are great, and to a certain extent they are the way the world works,” said Reid. “Students usually come in knowing about them, and we are supportive without pushing anyone into them. But they’re great opportunities to get heard, get feedback. You never know what can happen, so we want to support their exposure to different opportunities. But it has to be while they focus on the musician they’re becoming and the art they’re creating.”
