Open Call for Mentees – Mentorship Programme

About the Open Call

Are you a young female or non-binary composer, songwriter, or musician taking your first steps into the professional world? Are you currently studying at, or have you recently graduated from an AEC member institution in Europe? Would you like to connect with inspiring role models, gain first-hand insight into the music industry, and become part of a European network that values equality, diversity, and fair access to the labour market? The AEC–ECSA–EJN–JMI Mentorship Programme 2025-2027 is an EU-funded initiative that offers exactly this opportunity. Building on the success of previous editions, the 2025–2027 programme is designed to introduce emerging musicians to the professional sector while actively working to enhance gender equality and non-binary visibility in the music industry. Over the course of six months, selected mentees will receive guidance and advice from experienced composers, songwriters, and performers across three genre areas: Contemporary classical music, Folk, world, and traditional music, Jazz and creative, improvised music. Mentees will participate in individual online sessions with their mentors, focusing on artistic development, career planning, and navigating the professional landscape. In addition, they will join international networking events where participants from different disciplines meet to exchange ideas and present their work, becoming part of a supportive community of peers and role models that extends far beyond the programme itself. The Mentorship Programme is a joint initiative of four leading European networks: European Association of Conservatoires (AEC), European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA), Europe Jazz Network (EJN), and Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI), through its Ethno programme. Together, they will appoint 9 mentors (3 from each genre area) and select 9 mentees from among students and alumni of AEC member institutions. The Mentorship Programme runs over a period of 6 months, and includes a kick-off meeting, mentorship sessions, and a dissemination event.

What is Offered

As a mentee of the AEC-ECSA-EJN-JMI Mentorship Programme, you will gain personalised guidance and support from experienced professionals, explore different perspectives across genres, build long-lasting connections within the European music community, contribute to a wider movement that promotes DEI in the sector, have the chance to present yourself and your music in international contexts, and receive financial support that enables you to participate in networking events. Financial support includes a maximum lump sum of 1.700,00€ per mentee, covering travel, accommodation, and daily allowance for the kick-off meeting in Helsinki and the dissemination event in Brussels.

Requirements

Applicants must be young female or non-binary composers, songwriters, or musicians taking their first steps into the professional world. They must currently be studying at, or have recently graduated from an AEC member institution in Europe. Applications require a motivation statement, short biography, description of special interests, and links to work.

How to Apply

Applications to the Mentorship Programme must be submitted online by 10 November 2025, 11:59 pm (CET) via the provided link: https://forms.gle/xYBHww77QLaC1xj67. Each application should include: A motivation statement (max. 250 words), A short biography (max. 150 words), A description of your special interests (to help match you with the right mentor), Links to your work (Spotify, SoundCloud, Vimeo, YouTube, personal website). Applicants must be students or alumni of AEC member institutions. Applications missing required materials will not be considered. The program timeline includes: October-November 2025: Application period; December 2025: Selection of mentees and matching with mentors; February 2026: Kick-off meeting at the AEC’s Pop and Jazz Platform (PJP) in Helsinki; April-September 2026: Online mentorship sessions; October 2026: Submission of evaluation forms; March 2027: Final dissemination event at the ECSA’s Creators Conference in Brussels.