The ASCAP Foundation has announced the 15 recipients of the 2018 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards as well as 7 additional honorable mentions. The program, which was established in 2002 to encourage young gifted jazz composers up to the age of 30, is named in honor of trumpeter/composer/bandleader Herb Alpert in recognition of The Herb Alpert Foundation’s multi-year financial commitment to support this program. Additional funding for this program is provided by The ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund. The recipients, who receive cash awards, range in age from 14 to 29, and are selected through a juried national competition. The ASCAP composer/judges for the 2018 competition were: Sylvie Courvoisier, Wycliffe Gordon, and Sachal Vasandani. In addition, one of the recipients of the Herb Alpert Awards will be featured during the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival in August.
“The class of 2018” – pictured herein are all of the 2018 Alpert Awardees and Honorable Mentions:
(top row, from left to right) Matthew Whitaker, Lucas Apostoleris, Eddie Codrington, Mariel Austin, Drew Zaremba, Garrett Wingfield;
(2nd row, L to R) Enrico Bergamini, Evan Hyde, Ben Barson, Josh Shpak, Alexander Hurvitz, Takumi Kakimoto;
(3rd row, L to R) Gene Knific, Elijah Shiffer, Zachary Rich, Estar Cohen;
(bottom row, L to R): Billy Test, Katelyn Vincent, Ben Rosenblum, Owen Broder, Sam Wolsk, and Sara McDonald.
Below is a complete list of the 2018 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award recipients and their award-winning compositions (click on the titles of the compositions to hear them):
- Lucas Apostoleris (b. 1993 in New Milford, CT; currently residing in Miami, FL):
Terminal C - Mariel Austin (b. 1988 in Berkeley, CA; currently residing in Los Angeles, CA):
Runner in the Rain - Benjamin Barson (b. 1988 in Brooklyn, NY; currently residing in Pittsburgh, PA):
Insurrealista - Enrico Bergamini (b. 1991 in Bergamo, Italy; currently residing in Brooklyn, NY):
Virtual Proof - Owen Broder (b. 1989 in Jacksonville, FL; currently residing in New York, NY):
Goin’ Up Home - Estar Cohen (b. 1992 in Toledo, OH; currently residing in Ypsilanti, MI):
Endings - Alexander Hurvitz (b. 2003 in California and currently still residing there):
Super Cup Noodles - Gene Knific (b. 1992 in Kalamazoo, MI; currently residing in Chicago, IL):
Just as the Sun Rises, Children Play in the Woods; There is a Light Blue Haze That Tints Everything - Sara McDonald (b. 1991 Bethesda, MD; currently residing in Brooklyn, NY):
Easy Comes The Ghost - Zachary Rich (Wichita, KS; currently residing in Greeley, CO):
Community - Elijah Shiffer (b. 1991 in Mt. Vernon, NY; currently residing in Brooklyn, NY):
Unhinged - Billy Test (b. 1989 in Phillipsburg, PA; currently residing in Astoria, NY):
The What If Game - Garrett Wingfield (b. 1992 in Louisville, KY; currently residing in Dallas, TX):
Berne Center - Sam Wolsk (b. 1997 in Williamstown, MA; currently residing in Princeton, NJ):
Goodbye for Now - Drew Zaremba (b. 1991 Little Rock, AR; currently residing in Denton, TX):
Job (the Aftermath)
Seven additional composers received Honorable Mention:
- Eddie Codrington (b. 1996 in Ann Arbor, MI; currently residing in Kalamazoo, MI):
Atlantic Exodus - Evan Hyde (b. 1989 in Grand Rapids, MI; currently residing in New York, NY):
Depridation - Takumi Kakimoto (b. 1994 in Japan; currently residing in Boston, MA):
Find Phrygiayn - Ben Rosenblum (b. 1993 in New York NY and currently residing there):
Chain Chomp - Josh Shpak (b. 1993 in Walnut Creek, CA; currently residing in Boston, MA):
From Different Places - Katelyn Vincent (b. 1992 in Laramie, WY; currently residing in Tempe, AZ):
Unfinished Business - Matthew Whitaker (b. 2001 in New Jersey and currently still residing there):
Neighborhood Park
