The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark has announced who the five finalists are for the 2025 Sassy Awards. The 14^th Annual Sarah “Sassy” Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition will culminate November 23 as part of the James Moody Jazz Festival. (Vaughan and Moody were both from Newark.) Almost 200 singers from 27 countries vied for the honor.

The deadline to register for the 14^th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition (known as The Sassy Awards) is September 2. The finals of the competition will be held November 23 in Newark as part of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) James Moody Festival.

April May Webb of Connecticut is the winner of the 13^th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on November 24. Known as The Sassy Awards for Vaughan’s longtime nickname, Webb bested the 220 entrants from 21 countries, whittled down to five for the sing-off hosted by WBGO’s Sheila Anderson.

The top five finalists for the 13^th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition—known as The Sassy Awards—have been announced by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Over 220 entrants from 21 countries submitted songs and now only five remain.