The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition (also known as The SASSY Awards), held annually at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), has honored the following winners:
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2025: Kate Kortum (Houston, TX), who received the top prize and a $5,000 cash award.
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2024: April May Webb (Edison, NJ), who won the 13th annual competition.
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2023: Tyreek McDole (St. Cloud, FL), the second male vocalist to win the contest’s 12-year history at that time.
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2022: Lucía Gutiérrez Rebolloso (Veracruz, Mexico), who won the 11th annual competition.
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2021: Gabrielle Cavassa and Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim were announced as co-winners of the competition held in June 2021.
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2020: Information is missing from the search context regarding the 2020 winner (the competition was likely canceled or postponed due to the pandemic, as the 10th annual winner was listed in 2021).
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2019: G. Thomas Allen (Chicago, IL), the first male vocalist to win the 10th annual competition.
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2018: Laurin Talese.
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2015: Arianna Neikrug.
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2013: Jazzmeia Horn.
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2012: Cyrille Aimée.
Earlier winners listed in the competition’s history include Ashleigh Smith (2014), Deelee Dubé, Quiana Lynell, and Samara Joy (2019, who later won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2023). The competition is open to singers over 18, of all genders and nationalities, who are not signed to a major label.
I missed the 1st 2 years, then every show until covid, started up again, one of the best musical events you will ever attend, in the wonderful small theater at NJPAC
Typical batch of contestants (occasionally men), April May Webb won
Here's after the show, a restaurant named Nico, in the building
Always just before Thanksgiving, if you can get there, you will love it.
