Trumpeter Braden Waddell named a 2015 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition Winner

INDIANAPOLIS (May 18, 2015)­–Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis, in conjunction with Yamaha Corporation of America’s Band and Orchestral Division, announced nine 2015 Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) Competition Winners. The annual YYPA Program, which underscores Yamaha’s commitment to music education, recognizes exceptional emerging jazz, classical and contemporary musicians.

 

Winners are chosen after submitting recordings and supporting material, which are evaluated by a panel of Yamaha Performing Artists and national celebrity musicians. In addition to the nine winners, the judges chose five honorable mention recipients. The winners receive an all-expense paid trip to the YYPA Celebration Weekend, held June 20-23, 2015, which includes rehearsals, master classes, social events and workshops focused on how to establish and maintain a career in music. The weekend culminates with the YYPA Concert on Monday, June 22, at 8:00 p.m. at Emens Auditorium on the campus of Ball State University. The event serves as the kick-off concert for the Music for All Summer Symposium, presented by Yamaha.

The 2015 YYPA Winners join the ranks of more than 200 former winners since the program’s inception, many of whom have established successful music careers. Past winners include Ricardo Morales, principal clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra; Alex Han, saxophonist with Marcus Miller; Otis Murphy, professor of saxophone, Indiana University; Conrad Jones, principal trumpet with the Tucson Symphony; and Aaron Parks, jazz pianist and Blue Note recording artist.

Braden Waddell started playing trumpet in 6th grade in his hometown of Graham, Washington. When he first began, he used his left hand to finger the valves and had to relearn using his right hand after several weeks of practicing incorrectly. Trumpet was simply a hobby of Waddell’s until high school, when he learned about professional careers in music performance. He started taking lessons seriously his junior year, and attended the Idyllwild Summer Music Festival the next two summers. Waddell placed 2nd at the State Solo & Ensemble Competition his junior and senior years, which fueled his fire to become a professional musician that much more.

Waddell equally loves playing both jazz and classical music. The Central Washington University big band (CWU Jazz Band One) recently won the College Big Band Division of the Monterey Jazz Festival Competition to earn a spot at the festival in September. Waddell was a featured soloist on one of the tunes. Through his musical endeavors, Waddell has played with several esteemed players, such as Bobby Shew, Dick Oatts, Wycliffe Gordon, Allen Vizzutti, and Barney McClure, among others. A majority of his private study has been spent with Mr. John Harbaugh, professor of trumpet at Central Washington University.

 

2015 YYPA Winners include:

Michael Alampi - Flute - Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Graeme Johnson - Clarinet - Austin, Texas

Stuart Englehart - Bassoon - Olmsted Falls, Ohio

Patrick Bartley, Jr. - Saxophone - Hollywood, Florida

Braden Waddell - Trumpet - Graham, Washington

Zachary Grass - Tuba - Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Misaki Nakamichi - Drum Set - Osaka, Japan

Kyle Price - Cello - Worthington, Ohio

Jae Young Kim - Piano - Seoul, South Korea

 

2015 Honorable Mentions:

Christopher Padilla - Saxophone - Spring, Texas

Adam Marchand - Trumpet - Muncie, Indiana       

Mark Trotter - Horn - Seminole, Florida

Kevin Broom - Euphonium - McLean, Virginia

Se Um - Percussion - Rochester, New York

 

 

For more information about the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Program, email [email protected] or visit: http://4wrd.it/YYPA_WEBSITE_2015

 

Source: Taylor King, Giles Communications

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