The American Music Abroad (AMA) program brings people together across the world through education, entertainment, and the legacy of 70 years of musical diplomacy through the U.S. Department of State. AMA is the direct descendant of the Jazz Ambassadors programs of the 1950s, which continues to demonstrate the power of cultural diplomacy as a tool to bring people together with music, the universal language.
The American Music Abroad Tour Season will select bands composed of three to five members that demonstrate outstanding musical talent, aptitude in performance and educational programming, and adaptable skills for international audiences. The ten selected bands will participate in an international tour to one to two countries over a 15-20 day touring period (based on band availability).
We welcome all musical genres, including a-cappella, country, hip hop, rap, rock, indie, classical, folk, Latin, rhythm & blues, soul, jazz, Broadway, gospel, and Native American music. Selected bands will be asked to partner with U.S. Embassies worldwide, creating programming that will connect people across cultural divides, further ensuring a sustainable impact for the rich legacy of musical diplomacy in the U.S. Department of State.
Semi-finalists chosen from the larger pool of applicants will participate in auditions, from which finalist ensembles will be selected. The American Music Abroad tour season generally takes place between September and May. Each musician in the band will receive an honorarium per programming day. All travel and production expenses are covered. To be eligible all band members must be U.S. citizens, over 18, have no felonies, and not be delinquent on child support.
Don’t hesitate to email ama@americanvoices.org with questions.