Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition 2026

Thursday • May 21, 2026

The Florida Theatre

128 E. Forsyth Street #300, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Doors open at 6 PM • Competition begins at 7 PM

This is a free event, no ticket is required for entry.

For over thirty years, the Jacksonville Piano Competition presented by Yamaha has been a cherished tradition at the jazz fest. This event remains one of the most thrilling musical spectacles around!

Five finalists, representing the pinnacle of jazz pianists worldwide, are selected by a blind panel of judges to vie for a cash prize and the opportunity to perform on the Ford on Bay Stage presented by Publix at this year’s festival. This intense competition has become a cornerstone of the festival, beloved by many as a chance to witness extraordinary emerging talents in the jazz scene.

Renowned jazz legends like Marcus Roberts, Brian Culbertson, Christian Sands, Jason Miles, Joey Calderazzo, Lynne Arriale, Dr. John, Per Danielsson, John Thomas, and others have graced the judging panel in the past, adding to the prestige and excitement of the event.

The Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition presented by Yamaha is free to attend, no ticket required! Attendees that have purchased Full Festival VIP packages will have reserved seating at this event.

2026 Piano Competition Finalist

Quintin Harris

Quintin Harris, from Yonkers, NY, has been on the rise this last year, regularly appearing in some of NYC’s most celebrated venues (as well as throughout the country). An acolyte of master pianist Bill Charlap, Quintin performs with a sensibility and emotion beyond his years. Best known for exhilarating trio arrangements, heartfelt ballad playing, a strong lyrical interpretation, and an aptitude for deep swing–you don’t want to miss these rising stars. Quintin is an interpreter of the Great American Songbook and old New York’s elegance; he infuses melody, phrasing, and touch with enormous sensitivity and passion through pyrotechnical trio arrangements and heart-wrenching ballad playing. The New York City Jazz Record writes: “The classic American Songbook has rarely felt so authentic…the old New York imagery flourished…” & “…Masterful standards and the power of arranging to keep them current and relevant…With such a talented group, the Quintin Harris Trio is full of possibilities; there’s Harris the vocalist, Harris the solo jazz pianist, and Harris the leader of a band with two other virtuosic musicians. The potential combinations and permutations of presenting material are therefore thrilling…” ~ NiteLife Exchange

Max Holm

Jazz pianist Max Holm grew up in Stockholm with summers in Puerto Rico. He has performed hundreds of times across the US and Europe. Recipient of the 2019 DownBeat Outstanding Jazz Piano Soloist award, a Brubeck Institute Fellowship, and Presidential Scholarship from Berklee College of Music. He graduated summa cum laude in 2020. Max has studied with NEA Jazz Master JoAnne Brackeen since 2016. His 2018 TED Talk, “How 7 Blood Transfusions Gave Me a Passion for Jazz,” tells his story. Having composed over 200 works, his music has reached over 100 million listeners through film, TV, ads, games and metaverses, including Anne Hathaway’s and Jessica Chastain’s Mothers’ Instinct. Max’s latest original composition Stomping Grounds features Grammy winner Markus Howell, Russell Hall, and Isaiah Weatherspoon. Max is the author of Ace Your SightReading Audition! He is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Ian McCune

Originally from Black Diamond, Washington, Ian McCune is a jazz pianist currently pursuing a master’s degree in music in Greeley, Colorado, where he studies under Dana Landry at the University of Northern Colorado. An active performer, he appears regularly with university ensembles and professional groups throughout the region in concert settings, festivals, private events, and community venues. He has participated in national conferences and educational clinics through the Jazz Education Network, engaging with leading artists and educators from across the country. Ian is committed to expressive, stylistically versatile performance and continues to cultivate a personal voice rooted in the jazz tradition while connecting with diverse audiences.

Rowan Tucker-Meyer

Rowan Tucker-Meyer is a jazz pianist originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, now based in New York City. A devoted student of the music, Rowan strives to honor the rich jazz piano tradition, drawing on influences such as Oscar Peterson, Kenny Kirkland, and Erroll Garner to craft his own expressive, playful, and hard-swinging style. Rowan has performed at venues including the Black Cat Jazz Supper Club, Blue LLama Jazz Club, Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Cliff Bell’s, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, Dizzy’s Club, Nublu, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Michigan Jazz Festival, and the Detroit Jazz Festival. He is also a member of the funk band Vup, with whom he has performed around Michigan, New York City, and the Bay Area. Rowan is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he studied under mentors such as Andy Milne, Roger Jones, and Robert Hurst, and he now attends Manhattan School of Music.

Christian Valdés

Christian Valdés is a pianist from Cali, Colombia, raised in a family of renowned salsa musicians. Immersed in the Latin music tradition from an early age, he became an active performer on the international salsa scene while still a teenager. By the age of 16, he was already touring and performing with major artists from Colombia, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, including Richie Valdés, Andy Montañez, Ismael Miranda, Tito Nieves, Guayacán, Luisito Carrión, Willie González, Rey Ruiz, and others. At 19, Christian joined the legendary band Grupo Niche. During a tour stop in Dallas, he auditioned for the Jazz Piano program at the University of North Texas and was awarded a scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies. He relocated to Texas in 2011, where he studied with distinguished mentors such as Stefan Karlsson, Michael Palma, and Sergio Pamies. Throughout his career, Christian has performed and recorded with an extensive list of internationally acclaimed artists, including Ricky Martin, Diego “El Cigala,” Arturo Sandoval, Néstor Torres and more. As a bandleader and composer, he has received nine DownBeat Student Music Awards, earning recognition for Best Latin Jazz Group with his sextet as well as Best Soloist for his original compositions. In addition to his performance career, Christian has been active as an educator, serving on the Jazz Studies faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington. He recently relocated to New York City to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at New York University, where he continues to develop his work as a pianist, arranger, and composer.

Now based in New York, Christian remains an active presence in the jazz and Latin music scenes.