Kate Kortum Wins Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition

By DownBeat I Dec. 9, 2025

Kate Kortum, winner of the 14th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition
(Photo: Steven Sussman)

Kate Kortum was named the winner of the 14th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition on Nov. 23. Hosted by WBGO Radio’s Gary Walker, “The Sassy Awards” presented its top five finalists on the iconic New Jersey Performing Arts Center stage as part of NJPAC’s TD James Moody Jazz Festival. Judges for the competition included singer/lyricist Ann Hampton Callaway, trumpeter Jon Faddis, vocalist Nnenna Freelon, bassist and Artistic Advisor for Jazz Programming at NJPAC Christian McBride and vocalist Janis Siegel.

Pulled from 200-plus entrants from 27 different countries, the finalists represented the next generation of great jazz vocalists. Ultimately, it was Kortum who received the top honor and a $5,000 cash award. Kortum is originally from Houston, Texas, and currently resides in Harlem. She wowed the judges singing the blues standard “Easy Come, Easy Go Blues,” the timeless ballad “You’ve Been There” and “What A Little Moonlight Can Do,” a song performed and recorded by the iconic vocalist Sarah Vaughan (1924–’90), an NEA Jazz Master who rose to jazz stardom from humble beginnings in Newark.

Hailed for her warm, distinctive sound that blends the blues, bebop and Broadway, Kortum issued her debut album, Good Woman (2023), to critical and streaming acclaim, surpassing 3.5 million streams for its imaginative reworkings of jazz standards from a female perspective. Her sophomore release, Wild Woman (2025), followed, continuing her fresh, story-driven approach to bebop, blues and the Great American Songbook. A graduate of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and the Juilliard School, Kortum has appeared at Mezzrow, SXSW, Birdland, Blue Note and Dizzy’s, collaborating with Peter Bernstein, Emmet Cohen, Bryan Carter and Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

The second place honor and $1,500 prize went to Emma Smith of London. Third place and a prize of $500 was awarded to Julia Moscardini of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rounding out the Top Five were Diamond Princess Franklin (of Philadelphia) and Candace Jones (of Hollywood, Florida).

The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition is open to singers over the age of 18, of all genders and nationalities, from anywhere in the world, and not signed by a major label. Entrants are judged on vocal quality, musicality, technique, performance, individuality, artistic interpretation and ability to swing. Past winners include Cyrille Aimée, Jazzmeia Horn, Ashleigh Smith, Arianna Neikrug, Deelee Dubé, Quiana Lynell, Laurin Talese, Samara Joy, Gabrielle Cavassa and Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim, G. Thomas Allen, Lucía Gutiérrez Rebolloso, Tyreek McDole and April May Webb. DB