“I’m playing to express something beyond myself,” shares Ambrose Akinmusire, one of the 2026 CHANEL Next Prize winners. The Californian composer and musician is a four-time GRAMMY nominee and widely regarded as one of the most gifted trumpeters of his generation. He has performed with Joni Mitchell and Kendrick Lamar, and also serves as Stanford University’s Director of Jazz. Filmed in Paris, Akinmusire discusses his daily practice, and why, for him, playing is a spiritual act. Discover more about the CHANEL Next Prize and meet the winners: https://www.chanel.com/-NextPrize26-AA #CHANELNextPrize