2023 YCS selectees
“The Lalibalotch Sings at Dawn“
LARGE INSTRUMENTAL GROUP
Joseph C. Borsellino III is a Massachusetts-born professional saxophonist, composer, and educator. Borsellino has degrees in Jazz Composition from Temple University (BA), and New England Conservatory of Music (MD). In 2021, Borsellino was awarded the inaugural ISJAC Emerging Black Composer Prize for his suite, “The Police State,” which has been performed and broadcasted by WDR Big Band.
On April 16th, 2021, Borsellino released his second full-length EP, “Last year was a beautiful, terrible mess,” a collection of collaborative projects recorded throughout 2020’s extensive quarantine and social isolation. He enjoys teaching and freelancing in the Boston area, where he performs original music with his jazz trio.
“Insincere”
SMALL INSTRUMENTAL GROUP’
Dava Giustizia is a composer and pianist/keyboardist from Surabaya, Indonesia, currently based in Boston, MA, to study Jazz Composition and Performance in his last year at Berklee College of Music.
He started his musical journey at the age of 4, studying European classical solo piano repertoires and techniques, before taking interest in the world of playing together in a band and progressive metal at the age of 13. Ever since, he has expanded his references and influences from names like Dream Theater, Chick Corea, Billy Childs, Casiopea, Maria Schneider, and many more.
His dream as a musician are as simple as writing and performing his own music as a journal for himself about things that happened or grabbed his interest around him, having discussions and collaborate with others, and hope that, one day, he may inspire others to be a better version of ourselves through his works.
“Flamenco a muñeco de neive“
LARGE INSTRUMENTAL GROUP
Zhengtao Pan is a young musician who was born in 2003 and grew up in Shanghai, China. He is currently studying Jazz Composition/Composition as a double major at Berklee College of Music. During his one year of music studies, he has scored several independent games and film projects. Zhengtao’s independent game works include “Deepening Fire”, “Rise of the Godwoken”, “Lucille”, “Doroko Town”, etc. His independent film and TV works include “Reloaded New Life” and “Wormhole “. Zhengtao is also responsible for outsourcing music for some game companies such as Masaya Games, miHoYo Co., Ltd etc.
In terms of song writing, Zhengtao has written theme songs for several independent games and virtual idols and participated in the production of the album “Secret Treasure Traveler”. His music has been selected as a finalist in IEMC Electronic Music Competition and Top 20 in Lei Cine Scoring Project, Top 20 in Call for the Score in Film Scoring Academy of Europe.
Besides scoring, Zhengtao also arranges jazz tunes for jazz orchestras and bands and produces electronic music as well. He has also collaborated with Budapest Scoring Orchestra, Budapest Jazz Orchestra, European Recording Orchestra, Budapest Art Orchestra, and others.
“Unequivocally“
SMALL INSTRUMENTAL GROUP
Alex Shanafelt graduated from the University of South Florida with a MM in Music Composition under the tutelage of Benjamin D. Whiting, Paul Reller, and Chuck Owen. Since graduation, he has conducted, composed, and arranged for the Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective, a contemporary jazz nonet based in Indianapolis with a mission of playing original charts and arrangements by local musicians. The 9ollective has enjoyed performances across Indiana, including Merriman’s Playhouse, the Taggart Amphitheater, and Indy’s own The Jazz Kitchen. The group is preparing to release their debut album “illuminate” which features two of Alex’s works, “Unequivocally” and the title track “Illuminate.”
Additionally, Alex is one of the co-founders of the Contemporary Art Music Project (CAMP), a non-profit organization that promotes innovative new music by collaborating with living composers and performing artists from around the world. At CAMP, Alex helps to administrate their annual international music festival, CAMPGround, as well as leading the development of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary undergraduate education program called The Artist Orchard.
“Blue Light“
SMALL INSTRUMENTAL GROUP
Jazz pianist Alex Sjobeck is active as a performer, composer, touring artist, and educator. Sjobeck has released four albums as leader and co-leader; composed music for film; toured with a variety of ensembles; conducted her own music for big band; and has presented workshops and masterclasses throughout the United States. She holds degrees in Jazz Studies from the Manhattan School of Music and University of Northern Colorado and is currently on faculty at Boise State University.
“Wandering“
LARGE INSTRUMENTAL GROUP
Kevin Zapata (1996) is a trumpet player and composer/arranger. Originally from Nederland, TX, he attended the University of North Texas studying Jazz Trumpet under Rodney Booth, Tanya Darby, and Phillip Dizack while also learning composition under Rich DeRosa. Kevin has also performed and written for the various lab bands including the 7-time Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band for “Lab 2020.”
Kevin is currently a Master’s student at the University of Miami studying Studio Jazz Writing under Stephen Guerra and is a member of the Frost Studio Jazz Band under the direction of Etienne Charles. His upcoming album “Dark Matters” will be a debut release that delves into the different types of darknesses of humanity, slated to release in 2023.
previous ycs selcetees
- Clint Bleil – Pittsburg, PA – “Ubiquitous Lumineferous”
- Kate Hamann – Frost School of Music – “Her Colors”
- Stephen Harvey – Salisbury, MD – “Projectile Dysfunction”
- Josh Karas – Vanderbilt University – “Fantasy in C Minor”
- Skylar Tang – San Francisco Bay Area – “What? Why?”
- Gary Wang – Bejing, China – “Bill’s Board”
- Michael Clement – University of North Texas – “Evading Karmacities”
- Hatsune Hirakura – Berklee College of Music – “Dear M”
- Lola Miller-Henline – San Francisco Conservatory of Music – “Mind of Its Own”
- Katelyn Vincent – Phoenix, AZ – “Unfinished Business”
- Nathan Poehlke, University of Oregon — “Feeling Sleepy”
- Maya Keren, Princeton University – “Wyndmoor”
- Phillip Ryan Goss, New England Conservatory – “Untitled No. 1”
- Annie Booth, University of Colorado – “Jolly Beach”
- Gabriel Severn, Loyalsock Township High School – “Canção Para Fina”
- Andrew Saliba, San Diego – “Silent Minority”
- Eri Chichibu, Berklee College of Music – “The Sea – Seven Years Voyage”
- HONORABLE MENTION
- Paulo Santos, University of Texas Austin – “Twisted Voyage”
- John Sturino, New York, New York – “Tip City”
- Yoko Suzuki, Berklee College of Music – “Cat Tricks”
- Bryann Kennard, University of Miami – “Let The Wild Rumpus Start”
- Martina Liviero, Berklee College of Music – “Pasajeros”
- Brian Martin, University of Massachussetts – “Lookin’ Forward”
- Sam Ross, University of Michigan – “Portuguese Bend”
- Jameson Scriver, Indiana University – “The Good Fight”
- Elliot Turner, University of Northern Colorado – “What Are You?”
- Tracy Yang, Berklee College of Music – “Yes and No”
- HONORABLE MENTION Ethan Moffitt, University of Southern California – “Step by Step”
- Lucas Fonseca, Berklee College of Music – “Colloquio”
- Takumi Kakimoto, Berklee College of Music – “Find Phrygiayn”
- Kyle Myers, University of North Texas – “Tomorrow Morning”
- Zachary Rich, University of Northern Colorado – “Community”
- David Rogers, Vanderbilt University – “Sivan”
- Gregory Weis, University of Northern Colorado – “Liquid Descent”
- Aida Demoya, Berklee College of Music – “TC For Leo”
- Anna Jelkéus, University of North Texas – “Above”
- Heui Lam, Berklee College of Music – “The Unknown Bell”
- Tobias Meissl, Berklee College of Music – “Deep Tree Fission”
- Chang Su, University of Northern Colorado – “Forbidden City Garden”
- Casio Vianna, University of Northern Colorado – “For The Rise Of A New Day”
- Mike Conrad, University of Northern Colorado – “Gerry’s Timepiece”
- Andrew D. Herring, Shenandoah University – “27”
- Nacho González Nappa, Berklee College of Music – “Candombe Juno”
- Matt Shugert, Indiana University – “Madeline”
- Tom Amend, University of Northern Colorado – “What Do You Say?”
- Keith Karns, University of North Texas- “The House At The End Of High Street”
- Chase Morrin, Harvard/NEC – “Three Brahmin”
- Drew Zaremba, University of North Texas – “Blues For Gabe”
- Lucas Apostleris, University of Massachusetts – “September Again”
- Enrico Bergamini, Berklee College of Music – “Convergence”
- Raphael DeLima, Frost School of Music (University of Miami) – “Quebra Cabeças”
- C. Tyler Dennis, San Francisco, California – “What Would Thad Do?”
- Aaron Hedenstrom, University of North Texas – “Honeybee”
- Carter Brodkorb, Toronto, Canada
- Jose Gurria, USC
- Laila Smith, San Jose, California
- Dave Stamps, University of Nebraska-Lincoln2012 Young Composer Showcase Selectees
- Socrates Garcia, University of Northern Colorado
- Brett McDonald, Rutgers University
- Emily Merrell, University of North Texas
- Tyler Mire, University of North Texas
- Chase Morrin, Harvard University/New England Conservatory
- Kate Skinner, University of Northern Colorado
