Young Concert Artists
On Sunday, November 17, 2019, I was selected as one of four first prizewinners of the Young Concert Artists (YCA) International Auditions. This happens to be the first time they have selected a saxophonist in their 58 year history. For those who may not be familiar with this organization, I’ll include their own description of the annual event below.
The Young Concert Artists International Auditions are held annually to discover and launch the careers of extraordinary musicians from all over the world. Winners are selected by a jury of distinguished musicians. The criteria are exceptional musicianship, virtuosity, individuality, projection as a performer, and promise. Musicians compete against a standard of excellence – not each other, and there can be any number of winners each year.
More about YCA: https://www.yca.org/about/
It has been almost a week now since the finals and announcement ceremony, and it is still quite difficult to put into words how much this means to me, but I will still give it a shot.
The first moment that I remember being enthralled by the sound and possibilities of the classical saxophone was in 10th grade when Taimur Sullivan, who was then the saxophone professor at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), came to my high school jazz band saxophone sectional. He played Kuku by Barry Cockroft on soprano saxophone and I was absolutely blown away. The sound, vibrato, and refinement were all completely mind-boggling to me and I knew that I wanted to work with him to hopefully make my saxophone sound like THAT someday.
Later that year, I decided to audition for UNCSA in hopes of uncovering the mystery of his saxophone sorcery aaaannnnndddd...inevitably, didn’t get in. My genius audition repertoire included the Paul Creston Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano (played on tenor saxophone)...and the blues tune Billie’s Bounce with no understanding of what a blues chord progression was. I was put on the waitlist, and I’m fairly certain that I wasn’t at the top of it.
A few weeks later, I was told that others had decided to decline their admission, and I was accepted at UNCSA for my junior and senior years of high school. I was very surprised, excited, and unsure of what those next few years would bring. When I arrived at UNCSA, I remember being completely overwhelmed by how amazing and passionate everyone was around me. There were dancers preparing for auditions for the American Ballet Theatre, actors getting ready for Broadway, and saxophonists playing altissimo scales, when I am pretty sure that I didn’t know what altissimo was.
Feeling very behind and somewhat out of place, I began practicing harder than I could have ever imagined before. Since I was a high schooler in a studio with undergraduate and graduate-level students, I was constantly inspired to raise the standard for myself. With Professor Sullivan’s guidance and a passionate community around me, I fell deeply in love with music and performance. I had some success at concerto competitions and really began envisioning a future for myself as a performer.
As one does, I decided to pursue my undergraduate degree in music performance. I was incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to study with Dr. Otis Murphy at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Dr. Murphy demanded a refinement of sound and technique that will always stick with me as a player and teacher.
At this point, many talented young saxophonists with dreams of performing are confronted with the realities of the standing of our instrument in the world of classical music. When I talked about my dreams of performing with most of my friends and colleagues, I was met with skepticism and, at times, complete laughter. I was told time and time again that the only real career options for me were to join a military band, or to get a DMA and teach at a university. While both of these are awesome paths, they just never completely resonated with me internally.
In the years since then, I have continued to search for my path. I love teaching. I love performing. I love playing in my quartet. I love composing. I love advocating for musicians of marginalized communities. I love music and I believe in its value and importance to the human condition. I now realize that it is possible to have it all. In my pursuit of my passion for music, I have discovered a wider range of fulfilling opportunities than I could have ever thought possible.
In joining the Young Concert Artists roster this week, I feel viscerally transported back to my high school and undergraduate years when I was full of unbridled hope for the future of my instrument and my own passion for music. I plan to use this platform to make the classical music community more inclusive for marginalized communities, bolster the repertoire and reputation of the classical saxophone, and connect with people around the world in whatever ways I can. I also hope to be someone that young saxophonists in the future can look to and say, “look, HE did it! So can I!” when they are met with doubt and discouragement.
I look to the future with humility and a great sense of responsibility. I’m one lucky guy. :)