Open call for mentors: AEC–ECSA–EJN–JMI Mentorship Programme 2025–2027

ECSA is looking for 3 mentors from the Classical/Contemporary Music sector to join the AEC–ECSA–EJN–JMI Mentorship Programme 2025–2027 — an EU-funded initiative empowering the next generation of female and non-binary music creators across Europe.

Are you an experienced female or non-binary composer, songwriter, programmer or musician ready to guide the next generation of artists? Do you want to share your professional expertise, help shape careers, and contribute to greater equality and visibility in the European music sector?

The AEC–ECSA–EJN–JMI Mentorship Programme 2025-2027 invites established professionals to join as mentors in this new edition of our EU-funded initiative. They will have the opportunity to introduce emerging talents to the music industry while actively working to enhance gender equality and non-binary visibility in the music industry.

About the programme
The Mentorship Programme is an EU co-funded 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 nine mentors (three from each genre area as described in the eligibility criteria section) and select nine mentees from among students and alumni of AEC member institutions.

In addition, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, drawing on its REMAM project, along with Keychange, Play It Loud!, and EPASA, will contribute to the programme by providing expertise in mentorship design and supporting dissemination across Europe.

How does it work?
The Mentorship Programme runs over a period of 6 months, and includes:

Thursday, 12 February 2026
Kick-off meeting, held in the frame of AEC’s Pop and Jazz Platform (PJP) at Metropolia University (Helsinki, Finland).

1 April to 30 September 2026
Mentorship sessions, consisting of at least 3 individual online meetings mentor-mentee.

March 2027 (date / venue tbc)
Dissemination event, organised in the frame of ECSA’s Creators Conference in Brussels

Role of a Mentor
As a mentor, you will:
➔     Participate in three individual online mentoring sessions (one every two months) within a six-month period (April–September 2026).
➔     Support your mentee by sharing your professional expertise, offering career guidance, and helping navigate challenges in the music sector.
➔     Attend two international networking events (with travel and accommodation covered), as mentioned in the table above.

Why become a mentor?
●        Make a direct impact on the career development of young female and non-binary composers, songwriters, and musicians.
●        Contribute to greater diversity, equality, and visibility in the European music scene.
●        Build meaningful cross-genre and cross-border connections, including participation in high-level events organised by the partners.
●        Join a prestigious initiative supported by leading cultural networks.

⚠️ Eligibility
Mentors must be (i) experienced female or non-binary professionals and (ii) members of one of the participating networks. Appointments will be made in the following areas:

●        Contemporary, classical music – via ECSA (European Composer and Songwriter Alliance)
●        Jazz and creative improvised music – via EJN (Europe Jazz Network)
●        Folk, world, and traditional music – via JMI (Jeunesses Musicales International / Ethno)

How to apply
Applications must be submitted online by 10 November 2025, 23:59 CET and must include:
●        A motivation statement (max. 250 words)
●        Your area of expertise and special interests (to support the matching process)
●        A short biography
●        Links to relevant work (Spotify, SoundCloud, Vimeo, YouTube, personal/organisation website)

➤ Mentors applying through ECSA or EJN can apply here.
➤ Mentors applying through JMI/Ethno programme can apply here.

Compensation
To ensure participation, each mentor will receive a lump sum of €2.200, paid in three instalments.

This flat-rate amount covers:
●        Travel (€700), accommodation (€720), and per diem (€280) for the two in-person events (the Kick-off meeting in Helsinki and the Dissemination event in Brussels)
●        A mentoring fee of €500 for their work throughout the programme and
●        Free access to the in-person events, including meals

Mentors are responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel and accommodation using this amount.

⚠️ Participation in both in-person meetings is mandatory.

Timeline
●        October–November 2025: Call for mentors and mentees open
●        December 2025: Mentors and mentees selected and matched
●        February 2026: Kick-off meeting (AEC Pop and Jazz Platform, Helsinki)
●        April–September 2026: Mentorship sessions (3 online individual meetings)
●        October 2026: Submission of evaluation forms
●        March 2027: Final dissemination event (ECSA Creators Conference, Brussels)

Contact
For questions about the AEC-ECSA-EJN-JMI Mentorship Programme 2025-2026 or the application process, please contact:
●        Tatiana Papastoitsi (ECSA): tatiana.papastoitsi@composeralliance.org
●        Francesca Cerretani (EJN): francesca@europejazz.net
●        Giulia Annibaletti (JMI): giulia@jmi.net

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.