Eleven Outstanding Musicians Triumph in 2019 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition

"For over 30 years, Yamaha has acknowledged remarkable, young, aspiring musicians and assisted in launching their careers through the YYPA program. We are committed to encouraging these musicians to share their passion with the world and move others with their sound," said John Wittmann, director of artist relations and education, Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis. "This year's winners contribute to the legacy that the YYPA program has upheld and we are proud to shine a spotlight on these young men and women for the musical excellence they have accomplished so early in their careers."

Each applicant submitted an audio/video audition and support materials, which were evaluated by an expert panel of Yamaha Performing Artists and national celebrity musicians. Winners of the competition demonstrated superior technical skill and artistry on brass, winds, strings, percussion instruments and piano.

 

The 2019 YYPA Winners include:

• Alejandro Lombo – flute; Miramar, Florida; Curtis Institute of Music
• Freya Spence – clarinet; London, England; Manhattan School of Music
• Bhavani Kotha – oboe; Bellevue, Washington; DePaul University
• Eric Zheng – saxophone; Tucson, Arizona; Northwestern University
• Cade Gotthardt ­– trumpet; Long Beach, California; California State University, Long Beach
• Dave Mosko – trombone; Marlton, New Jersey; Rutgers University
• Connor Rowe – trombone; Lompoc, California; The Colburn School
• Samuel Vargas – violin; Acarigua-Araure, Venezuela; Columbus State University
• Austin Keck ­– percussion; Prosper, Texas; Eastman School of Music
• Xinzhu Ma – piano; Shenyang, China; University of Michigan
• Will Kjeer – piano; Saint Paul, Minnesota; California Institute of the Arts

The 2019 YYPA winners join over 300 exceptional musicians who have been recognized by the program over the past 31 years. Many have established successful music careers, both as performers and educators, including Conrad Jones, principal trumpet of the Indianapolis Symphony; Leelanee Sterrett, French horn with the New York Philharmonic; Stephen Page, Yamaha performing artist and faculty at the University of Texas at Austin; Aaron Parks, acclaimed jazz pianist; and Kyle Price, artistic director and founder of the Caroga Lake Music Festival and Caroga Arts Collective.

The 2019 Yamaha Young Performing Artists will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the YYPA Celebration Weekend June 22-25, 2019, which will take place during the Music for All™ Summer Symposium, to be held at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, from June 22-29, 2019.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will allow the young artists to perform in front of thousands, receive national press coverage and participate in workshops designed to launch a professional music career. The 2019 winners will walk away from this experience with services and support from Yamaha Artist Relations and professional audio and video recordings, as well as photography, of their live performance.

The YYPA Celebration Weekend will culminate at the annual YYPA Concert, which will be held on Monday, June 24 at Emens Auditorium. Yamaha Performing Artist Anders Astrand, a renowned international jazz artist, will perform as the Featured Guest Artist with the winners. In previous years, featured guest artists have included Allen Vizzutti, international trumpet soloist and educator; Jauvon Gilliam, principal timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra; and three-time Grammy® Award winner Jeff Coffin, saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band.

For more information about the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Program, email jgascho@yamaha.com or visit https://yamaha.io/YYPA