2014 YYPA Artists

Yamaha Young Performing Artists Program Shines Spotlight on Nine Outstanding Young Musicians

YYPA Winners who attended the annual event: Back row, left to right: Jake Chapman, Michael Swiren, Katsuya Yuasa; Front row, left to right: Stuart Mack, Alexa Tarantino, Mariko Shimasaki, Ade Irawan.

At the 26^th annual Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) Program, held June 21-23, 2014 at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis, in conjunction with Yamaha’s Band and Orchestral Division, announced the 2014 Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) Competition Winners. Since 1988, the YYPA Program has recognized outstanding young jazz, classical and contemporary musicians.

The 2014 YYPA Winners include:

Annie Wu – Flute – Pleasanton, California

Katsuya Yuasa – Clarinet – San Jose, California

Alexa Tarantino – Jazz Saxophone – West Hartford, Connecticut

Stuart Mack – Jazz Trumpet – Washington, Illinois

Seong Jin “Ray” Han – Horn – Interlochen, Michigan

Michael Swiren – Tuba – Maple Glen, Pennsylvania

Jake Chapman – Jazz Vibraphone – Los Angeles, California

Mariko Shimasaki – Violin – Springfield, Ohio

Ade Irawan – Jazz Piano – Los Angeles, California

Winners received an all-expense paid trip to the YYPA Celebration Weekend, which included rehearsals, master classes, social events, and workshops focused on how to establish and propel a career in music. Linda Mark, world-class pianist for the event, and Yamaha saxophone artist Jeff Rupert offered advice on how to collaborate in performance. John Wittmann, director of artist relations and education for Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis, offered the winners a unique and challenging session regarding goals, relationships, and lessons learned from his time in the music industry.

Yamaha performing artist Dana Leong served as the 2014 featured guest artist. Leong, a New York City-based cellist and trombonist, is known for blending jazz, classical, and pop sounds, developing a signature sound that is unique in the realm of contemporary music. He also offered the winners valuable insight into the music industry and joined the 2014 Jazz Winners in a collaborative performance at the end of the 2014 YYPA Concert.

Also during the event, Mark, Leong and nine additional Yamaha artists gathered with the seven winners present for the weekend festivities for a roundtable discussion, offering stories, advice, and wisdom in connection with a successful career in the music community.

This year’s winners join the ranks of more than 200 former YYPA Winners, who have gone on to establish successful music careers since the program’s inception. They were chosen from a competitive pool of jazz, classical, and contemporary young musicians, ages 18-22, by a panel of national celebrity musicians and Yamaha Performing Artists. This year’s YYPA Concert was held on Monday, June 23 at 8:00 p.m. in Emens Auditorium on the campus of Ball State University, and served as the kick-off concert for the Music for All Summer Symposium, presented by Yamaha.

For more information about the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Program, email jgascho@yamaha.com or visit http://4wrd.it/YYPA_WEBSITE_2014