For Immediate Release: January 2026
Blues Kid of the Year 2026
Register by clicking here.
Blues Kids Foundation, Rotary One Chicago, and Dunlop are proud to announce that Ahona Barua is the winner of the 13th Annual Blues Kid of the Year Contest. This submission automatically can also be used as an audition for the Blues Camp of your choice.
Blues Kids of the Year 2010 Ray Goren (Guitar)
Blues Kid of the Year 2011 Savannah "Wilde" Sanchez (Bassist)
Blues Kid of the Year 2012 William “ Mo Betta” Ledbetter (Multi-instrumentalist)
Blues Kid of the Year 2013 Logan Layman (Bassist and Vocalist)
Blues Kid of the Year 2014 Brandon Niederauer (Guitarist)
Blues Kids of the Year 2015 Brandon Petifort (Drums),
Elijah Johnson (Vocals) and Carson Mac (Guitar)
Blues Kid of the Year 2016 David Lee (Guitarist)
Blues Kid of the Year 2017 Garrison Boykin (Guitarist)
Blues Kid of the Year 2021 Dylan "Boogie Boy" James Shaw (Piano)
Blues Kid of the Year 2022. Kayden Marquez (Guitar)
Blues Kid of the Year 2023. Jayden Fargoso (Peer Leadership/Vocals)
Blues Kid of the Year 2024 Charlie Bienemy (Drums)
Blues Kid of the Year 2025 Ahona Barua (Violin)
Blues Kid of the Year 2026 Could be your Blues Kid.
Fernando Jones’ Blues Camp International is designed to be a fun-filled week of Blues immersion through the lens of ensemble instruction, public performances, and field study trips. At no cost, here, your Blues Kid will learn about and perform America’s “root” music in a structured program with like-minded others under the tutelage of highly qualified and internationally traveled instructors. Blues Camp has been successfully established on college campuses and at performing arts centers throughout America, Asia, The Caribbean, and Europe.
We use Kennedy Center ArtsEdge Standards and practice the art of learning, playing and performing the Blues by-ear. Placement is for beginner, intermediate and advanced level vocalists and instrumentalist ages 12 to 18. All instruments/instrumentalists are welcome in this program. Blues Kids who attend may be local, national, and international.
Blues Kids Foundation is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. We were established to preserve, perform, and promote the Blues among America's youth, parents, and educators under the tutelage of highly qualified instructors. Our focus is on education, literacy, social emotional learning, and music as a second language.
For more information call us at (779) BluesMe.
• • •
Entry Fee: It's free.
Eligibility: Contestants entering the Blues Kid of the Year Contest (BKOTY) must live in North America and be between the ages of eleven (11) and fifteen (15) years old by July 1st. Blues Kids who’ve attended Blues Camp before are ineligible. Proof of age may be requested at any time during the process. Contestants can enter under parental/legal guardian supervision only. They can sing and/or play an instrument(s) accompanied by one of the backing tracks on the page. Be creative and have fun.
Who Can't Enter: Blues Kids who have attended any of Fernando Jones’ Blues Camps before.
Winner Gets:
Transportation that may include either two (2) roundtrip plane tickets on Southwest Airlines (or a comparable airline) or Amtrak or Greyhound for the winner and their parent/legal guardian to Fernando Jones’ 16th Annual Blues Camp International at Columbia College Chicago; swag from D’Addario, Shure, Jim Dunlop and more plus six (6) nights of lodging accommodations at the Best Western Grant Park across the street from The Music Center at Columbia College Chicago where Blues Camp is hosted.
2026 Deadline Dates:
Submit entries between Sunday, February 1st and Saturday, June 20th at 12P CST; The 2026 BKOTY will be announced on Monday, June 22nd by 5P CST on our social media platforms.
Steps:
Step 1: Listen, learn and perform "Chicago's (Got Everything You Need)".
The audio file to perform with is below.
> Choose the instrumental track or vocal track with vocals.
> Lyrics are included below for "Chicago (Has Got Everything You Need)".
Step 2: Video record your Blues Kid's performance:
> Singing or playing along with the track of their choice.
For example, if you are a singer, sing along with the instrumental track. You don't have to necessarily riff or use melismas (runs). You can sing it straight with feeling.
If you are a playing an instrument, play along with the full track. You don't have to solo if you don't want to. Simply play rhythm, fills and/or chords. Do your best and have fun.
Step 3. Upload your your Blues Kid's video to YouTube.com:
> Label the video: Fernando Jones' Blues Camp 2026
> "Chicago (Has Got Everything You Need)" performed by
(Your Blues Kid's first name only), age, hometown.
> Check the "Public" box before "publishing" the video.
Step 4. Copy the link:
Chicago (Has Got Everything You Need)
A Tribute to My Hometown
Performed by Fernando Jones
Written, arranged and produced by Fernando Jones
Bluefunkjazroll Music, BMI | BluesNewz@aol.com
Chicago's got everything you need. (Repeat)
We've got a Great Lake and gold plated streets.
We've got hot dogs and championship teams.
We've got Soul food and championship teams.
We're the “City that Works” with a skyline that's mean.
(Breakdown)
We've got theaters / and / movie shows.
For a couple of bucks / go where you want to go.
I said, ‘Chicago's got everything you need.’
We've got a Great Lake and gold plated streets.
C-h-i / C-h-i / c-a-g-o / c-a-g-o. (Repeat)
Chicago has got everything you need.
Chicago has got everything you need.
Whenever I need a reason, a reason to smile. (Repeat)
I go window shopping on the Magnificent Mile.
Chicago's always got something new. (Repeat)
Chicago welcomes you.
Contest
Contest
Chicago Blues Camp fosters new generation of musicians
David Lee: 2016 Blues Kid of the Year
