Bill Evans Jazz Awards 2025 - Winners of the 1st Edition
An exciting evening full of energy, talent and original musical visions.
Yesterday, at the Municipal Theater of Sant'Agata Li Battiati (CT), the final round of BEJA 2025, the first national contest promoted by Musikante dedicated to contemporary creativity inspired by the poetic language of Bill Evans, took place.
1st Prize - Ariel Tricomi Argena 4et
A refined, visionary project with a great balance between writing and interplay.
Ariel Tricomi - piano
Niccolò Montè Rizzi - trumpet
Matisse Berg - double bass
Gabriele Peretti - drums
2nd Prize - FastLine Trio
Led by very young pianist Giulio Marino, with Riccardo Bortoluzzi (double bass) and Leonardo Giusto (drums), they amazed with expressive maturity and rhythmic cohesion.
3rd Prize - SanBo Duet
The duo formed by Jossy Botte (sax) and Michele Sannelli (vibraphone) offered timbral research and interplay of rare elegance.
All three projects offered outstanding performances, testifying to the vitality and richness of the new Italian jazz scene. Many musicians were very young-a strong signal of future and renewal.
Thanks to our audience, the Examining Board (Angelo Di Leonforte, Guglielmo Beneventano, Antonio Petralia, Gaetano Privitera, Roman Clarke), and all the entities that supported this first edition.
Photos show all the winners.
Event included in the season “Notes in Theater 2026 - Battiati Jazz Festival.”.
awards@musikante.eu
IG & FB: @musikante.eu
#BEJA2025#BillEvansJazzAwards#Musikante#JazzItaly#YoungTalents NotesInTheater2026 FinalJazz WinnersBEJA🎷 Bill Evans Jazz Awards 2025
🎷 Bill Evans Jazz Awards - Official Final!
📣 Announced the 3 finalist projects of the 1st edition of the national competition sponsored by Musikante, aimed at Italian and foreign musicians residing in Italy, no age limit!
🌟 SELECTED FINALISTS
🔹 Jossy Botte / Michele Sannelli
🔹 Giulio Marino Trio
🔹 Ariel Tricomi 4et
📅 Saturday, January 17, 2026
🕢 7:30 p.m.
📍 Municipal Theater - Cultural Pole of Sant'Agata Li Battiati (CT)
📌 Via dello Stadio, 19 - On the occasion of the presentation of the season.
🎶 BJF - Notes in Theater 2026
🎫 Tickets available at:
👉 www.diyticket.it https://www.diyticket.it/events/musica/27517/bill-evans-jazz-awards-final-concerts
🎹 An unmissable evening dedicated to contemporary jazz, featuring:
✨ The live performances of the finalists
🏆 The announcement of the winner of BEJA 2025
👥 Examination Committee
🎓 Angelo Di Leonforte (President)
🎓 Guglielmo Beneventano
🎓 Gaetano Privitera
🎓 Roman Henry Clarke
🎓 Antonio Petralia
📩 For info and contact: awards@musikante.eu
🌐 Official site: www.musikante.eu
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @musikante.eu
✨ An event in the name of creativity, stylistic contamination and the timeless language of Bill Evans.
🎷 We are waiting for you!
Official: 3 finalists announced!
We are excited to announce the 3 official finalists of the first edition of the Bill Evans Jazz Awards 2025, selected from the 10 semifinalists after careful evaluation by the Examining Board.
🏆 BEJA 2025 Finalists (in alphabetical order):
- Jossy Barrel
- Marine Julius
- Tricomi Ariel
👏 Our heartfelt applause goes to the three finalists for the high musical level, compositional creativity and interpretive quality demonstrated in the projects submitted.
📅 The three artists will perform. live On the final night:
🗓 Saturday, January 17, 2026
📍 Municipal Theater of Sant'Agata Li Battiati (CT)
🎶 At the presentation of the concert season. Battiati Jazz Festival - Notes in Theater 2026
🔔 During the evening, the Jury will decree the winner of the Bill Evans Jazz Award 2025.
🎵 Thanks again to all the participants for making this first edition a significant occasion in the national jazz scene, with projects of the highest artistic profile.
📩 For info: awards@musikante.eu
🌐 www.musikante.eu
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @musikante.eu
🎶 Bill Evans Jazz Awards 2025
Official: Here are the 10 selected semifinalists!
We are pleased to announce the 10 semifinalists of the first edition of the Bill Evans Jazz Awards, selected by the Examining Board at the end of the inquiry and evaluation phase.
🔍 Among the many applications received from all over Italy, these are the musicians who received the highest overall score and enter the semifinals:
🎖 Official Semifinalists - BEJA 2025 (in alphabetical order):
- Jossy Botte
- Pasquale Buongiovanni
- Aurelio Ciancimino
- Niccolo Di Pasqua
- David Grigoli
- Edward Liberati
- Julius Marino
- Angelo Olivieri
- Stephen Risso
- Ariel Tricomi
🔜 The communication of the 3 finalists admitted to the live finale will take place by December 23, 2025.
📅 We would like to remind you that due to technical and logistical reasons beyond our control, the Final with live performance of the 3 finalists - originally scheduled for Dec. 6, 2025 - will take place on:
🗓 Saturday, January 17, 2026
📍 Municipal Theater of Sant'Agata Li Battiati (CT)
On the occasion of the presentation of the concert season Battiati Jazz Festival (Notes in Theater) 2026
🎵 We thank all the nominees for the very high artistic level, creativity and musical sensitivity shown. Your contributions have made this first edition an important occasion for the new national jazz scene.
📩 For info: awards@musikante.eu
🌐 www.musikante.eu
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @musikante.eu
Advancement of selective stages and new live final date
L’Musikante Cultural Association, promoter of the Bill Evans Jazz Awards 2025, as part of the three-year project “Jazz Pathways - Tradition, Innovation and Territory.” (FNSV 2025-2027), informs the following:
📌 You are preliminary investigation phase concluded. La Examining Board is currently working to select the 10 semifinalists, whose names will be published by November 30, 2025 Through the following channels:
- Official website: www.musikante.eu
- Direct email to participants
🎹 It is also announced that, For technical and logistical reasons beyond the organization's control, the live finale, initially scheduled for December 6, 2025 at the Emilio Greco Hall of the Arts of Gravina di Catania, has been reprogrammed As follows:
🗓 Saturday, January 17, 2026
📍 Municipal Theater of Sant'Agata Li Battiati (Catania)
On the occasion of the presentation of the concert season “Notes in Theater 2026”
🎖 I 3 finalists Eligible for public performance will be announced by December 31, 2025.
🙏 Thanks again to all participants for their high artistic value and passion: your contribution makes this first edition a significant initiative for the national jazz scene.
📩 Useful contacts:
Email: awards@musikante.eu
Site: www.musikante.eu
Social: Instagram & Facebook - @musikante.eu
✨ OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION - EXTENSION CALL ✨
🎹 Bill Evans Jazz Awards 2025
📣 Good news!
To encourage even broader participation, the Deadline to enter the national “Bill Evans Jazz Awards” competition is extended to Oct. 15, 2025.
👉 The award is open to. All Italian and foreign musicians residing in Italy, no age limit.
Two mandatory sections:
🎼 Arrangement of a piece by Bill Evans
✍️ Original composition inspired by his harmonic and poetic universe
📅 New deadline: October 15, 2025
📍 Live final: December 6, 2025 - Hall of Arts “Emilio Greco,” Gravina di Catania (CT)
💶 First Prize € 1,000.00 and direct access to “Jazz Pathways 2026” programming.”
The Bill Evans Jazz Awards is a contest sponsored by the’Musikante Cultural Association, addressed to all Italian and foreign musicians, resident in Italy, with no age limit, who wish to measure themselves against the musical and poetic legacy of the great American pianist Bill Evans.
Part of the three-year project “Jazz Pathways: Tradition, Innovation and Territory”, the competition consists of two sections:
🎼 Arrangement Of a piece by Evans and ✍️ Original composition unpublished inspired by his harmonic and lyrical language.
Application to be sent to: awards@musikante.eu (see regulations)
After a video selection and semifinalist stage, the three finalists will perform in concert the December 6, 2025 in Gravina di Catania.
Up for grabs: 1st Runner-up Prize of € 1,000.00 and, entry into 2026 programming and opportunities for artistic enhancement, prizes also for 2nd Runner-up (performance cachet € 600.00) and 3rd Runner-up(performance cachet € 400.00) (see regulations).
A unique opportunity to bring out the jazz creativity of our peninsula, between memory, innovation and future.