On the subject of ITEC competitions...

[Stefan Kac]

...I have never entered the jazz competition, but from having read the requirements a number of the previous years, it seemed to me that this year's were much more appropriate as far as what is expected out of a jazz musician in today's world. There is just so much more freedom in what they laid down for this year. If I'm remembering correctly, previous years have focused exclsuively on standards (at least 50% Ellington; not that there's neccesarily anything wrong with that, but there's more to life...)
I especially think it was smart to ask for an original composition. If I recall correctly, the 2003 guidelines had a line in them about encouraging less experienced players to apply.(!) Is this not an international competition? I wouldn't think that the quartet or solo competitions would ever say a thing like that. Anyway, I've rambled on long enough about something with which I am not intimately familiar. I was just wondering what other people thought about this (since we're on the subject).