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Apply for the Mentorship Program
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Questions about the IWBC Mentorship Program? Click here to learn more.
What is it?
The IWBC Mentorship program partners aspiring brass musicians with accomplished professionals in their field. Mentees will receive two mentoring sessions that they can choose how to use (career advice, lessons, etc.). Everyone involved will receive exclusive access to group sessions on career development. Mentees will also be featured in IWBC's social media, website, and newsletter.
We're thrilled to be celebrating our 5th anniversary of the program and have some exciting updates for the 2027 program!
Frequently Asked Questions
Apply Now by using the form linked at the top of this page.
The Mentorship Program is all held online via Zoom. The 2027 Program will occur throughout January and April 2027 but there will be a special welcome session in November 2026 helping participants who are interested in taking college auditions to prepare for audition season. Private sessions between mentors and mentees are scheduled between the two people (ideally one in January and one in April) and group sessions are held about twice per month.
The Mentorship Program is open to all brass musicians 18+ regardless of gender. The IWBC | Celebrating All People | Everyone is Welcome and Belongs
Applicants must be over 18 years of age
If you have questions about your eligibility, please feel free to reach out to us anytime: info@myiwbc.org
The mentorship program is open to anyone over the age of 18 years at the time of the start of the program.
All levels of experience are welcome. Past participants included college students, freelancers, graduate students, professional musicians and educators.
Mentors will be assigned based on the winner’s career aspirations. Mentors include professionals with diverse portfolios across the world with a vast amount of experience. Applicants will have the opportunity to request a mentor and while there is no guarantee, IWBC strives to honor those requests as much as possible.
The deadline for applications in the 2027 program is November 1, 2026 for mentees. Anyone interested in applying to be a mentor must apply before November 1, 2026.
Yes, previously chosen mentees are welcome to apply for future years of the program. Those who have already been chosen for a previous year will be guaranteed a spot in the full group sessions; however, priority for mentor pairing will go to new applicants. If there is availability, past mentees will be awarded a mentor based on a random drawing.
2026 Mentors
2027 Mentors will be updated in November, 2026. Are you interested in becoming a mentor? click here
| Katy | Ambrose |
| Estela | Aragon |
| Megan | Bailey |
| Julia | Bell |
| Sondra | Bell |
| Hana | Beloglavec |
| Megan | Boutin |
| Melissa | Brown |
| Dan | Burdick |
| Christine | Carrillo |
| Amy | Cherry |
| Ashley | Cumming |
| Karen | Donnelly |
| Jan | Duga |
| Lisa | Ford |
| Emilie | Fortin |
| Stephanie | Frye-Clark |
| Ashley | Hall |
| Catie | Hickey |
| Lauren | Hunt |
| Bente | Illevold |
| Kristen | Jacobsen |
| Katey | Jahnke |
| Betsy | Jones |
| Nancy | Joy |
| Karlee | Kamminga |
| Megumi | Kanda |
| Angela | King |
| Melanie | Kjellsen |
| Nikolette | LaBonte |
| Samantha | Lane |
| Brittany | Lasch |
| First | Last |
| Toni | LeFebvre |
| Jeannie | Little |
| Xiaoyu | Liu |
| Erika, | Loke |
| Brenda | Luchsinger |
| Rose | MacKenzie |
| Natalie | Mannix |
| Jennifer | Marotta |
| Monica | Martinez |
| Kiirsi | Maunula Johnson |
| Amy | McCabe |
| Anne | McNamara |
| Stacie | Mickens |
| Sarah | Miller |
| Kelly | Misko |
| Andrea | Neumann |
| Laurel | Ohlson |
| Jennifer | Oliverio |
| Ava | Ordman |
| Kaitlin | Oresky |
| Jessica | Pearce |
| Lacey | Phelps |
| Jasmine | Pigott |
| Casidy | Reed |
| Marquita | Reef |
| Susan | Rider |
| Jacinda | Ripley |
| Gail | Robertson |
| Lauren | Rudzinskas |
| Raquel | Samayoa |
| Cindy | Scaruffi-Klispie |
| Erika | Schafer |
| Faye-Ellen | Silverman |
| Susan | Slaughter |
| Hollyn | Slykhuis |
| Jessica | Sneeringer |
| Luke | Spence |
| Sarah | Stoneback |
| Lisa | Stoneham |
| Shanyse | Strickland |
| Deanna | Swoboda |
| Christiena | Taralson |
| Nancy | Taylor |
| Abby | Temple |
| Margaret | Tung |
| Danielle | VanTuinen |
| Jeanette | Velasco |
| Renee | Vogen |
| Brianna | Volkmann |
| Shannon | Walsh-Chargualaf |
| Kate | Warren |
| Jordan | Webb |
| Morgan | Wynn |
| Stephanie | Ycaza |
| Mia | Young |
| Lauren | Zetts |
What Our Past Participants Have to Say
“I got so much out of the one on one session with my mentor and just being able to communicate with her and ask questions and bounce things off of her after the session! Thank you so much for organizing this. I got so much more out of it than I was expecting!”
‘I really enjoyed getting to know my one-on-one mentor. The advice that she gave has been instrumental in allowing me to continue to grow musically and professionally.”
“Getting to see so many different role models and ways to thrive as a musician was the highlight of this program. Getting to feel completely safe and understood in a room full of people who really understand each other. And of course, meeting with my wonderful mentor!!! She was so incredibly helpful and encouraging. I feel that she helped me give the push I need to blossom and start finding my own voice for myself. “
“I really enjoyed working with my mentor (she provided me with a wealth of information and informed me about so many opportunities) and getting to connect with other women brass players.”
Apply to become a mentor
If you are interested in being a mentor, please feel free to submit the application below for consideration. After the committee deliberates, you will be notified if you have been selected. The purpose of this program is to provide support, education, and uplift those who are allies to all and specifically, the gender marginalized community. The program is welcoming to all, but IWBC reserves the right to prioritize selecting mentors who have demonstrated their commitment towards promoting equity in the brass community.
*Everyone is welcome to apply to be a mentee. Mentor applications will only be accepted from people who are female or gender non-conforming.