Brooklyn Conservatory of Music (BKCM) has named vocalist Merikara and guitarist Alana Amore Colvin as recipients of its 2026–27 Jazz Leaders Fellowship.
The two winners were recognized at a July 9 reception in BKCM’s Park Slope concert hall. Each artist will receive a $12,500 unrestricted award, along with free rehearsal space and performance and curatorial opportunities to support the next stage of their careers.
Merikara is a contemporary jazz vocalist whose music draws from blues, hip-hop, R&B and gospel. She has performed at several notable venues and festivals, including Newark Symphony Hall, SOB’s, the Lincoln Park Music Festival and Maplewoodstock. Beyond the stage, she works in children’s music education, community organizing and nonprofit initatives focused on cultural empowerment.
Brooklyn-based guitarist Alana Amore Colvin blends avant-garde jazz with Afro-folkloric traditions. They are recognized for their ability to balance intimate melodies with experimental textures. colvin performs with Ryan Easter’s Trap Music Orchestra and several improvisational projects. Their debut EP, huckleberries & lullabies, is available on most streaming platforms except Spotify.
Now in its sixth year, the fellowship supports emerging Black women and Black non-binary jazz musicians in New York City. The program began selecting two recipients each year in 2021 and has awarded fellowships to 12 artists.
I’m grateful that this fellowship exists—not only because it gives up-and-coming musicians the spaces and resources to develop their artistry, but because it has created an intricate network—a family—within the jazz scenes of BKCM, Brooklyn and NYC as a whole.
BKCM Executive Director Chad Cooper
Founded by German immigrants in 1897, BKCM has provided music education to thousands of New Yorkers. More information about the music school’s programs and mission is available on its website.
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