UNL Graduate Jazz Composer Wins Downbeat Magazine Award
calendar icon07 May 2014
Masayoshi Ishikawa, who is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in jazz composition in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Glenn Korff School of Music, has won a 2014 Downbeat Student Music Award in Graduate Composition for Small Ensemble.
His composition, “Hotaru,” was selected as the award-winning work. He wrote the piece for the UNL Graduate Jazz Combo, and it was premiered at their concert in October 2013.
“I used to ride one of the bike trails for commuting, and it was especially delightful to bike on autumn evenings,” Ishikawa said. “The grasses turn brown, and the breeze is gentle, and I would hear crickets singing. It was a beautiful view, but also somewhat melancholy. While biking on this trail, I somehow thought of ‘hotaru,’ a firefly in Japanese. I knew fireflies usually appear in summer, but my imagination of fireflies dancing around the trail kept growing more and more in my mind. I found out that once fireflies become adults, they only live for a week or two. In this piece, ‘Hotaru,’ I wanted to capture my expressions of how exquisitely fireflies dance in the air with their tails glowing, but also how short their lives are.”
Associate Professor of Composition and Jazz Studies Eric Richards is proud of Ishikawa’s accomplishments as a composer.
“Masayoshi is an extremely gifted and creative composer-arranger,” said Associate Professor of Composition and Jazz Studies Eric Richards. “He meticulously crafts each of his works, carefully considering the interaction of multiple dimensions of melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre and improvisation. Most importantly, he is one of the kindest and most humane young musicians I have ever had the pleasure of mentoring. He has the talent and potential to become a major voice in jazz composition and arranging.”
Ishikawa holds two Master of Music degrees—one in jazz composition from the University of South Florida and one in jazz piano performance from the University of Northern Colorado. A pianist, he has performed in several jazz ensembles within the U.S. and has performed at many festivals throughout Italy.
As a native of Japan, he had his first DMA jazz composition recital at UNL in 2013, where he presented his “Stevie Wonder Recomposition Project.” Also in April 2014, he presented his second jazz composition recital, where he premiered three original big band music pieces.
In addition, UNL alumnus David von Kampen (B.M. 2009; M.M. 2011) received his fourth Downbeat award this year for Original Composition for Large Ensemble. Von Kampen is completing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition at the University of Kansas.
The student music awards program of Downbeat Magazine is considered to be the most significant professional recognition of creative and excellence for student composers, performers and audio engineers working in the jazz and vernacular idioms. Downbeat Magazine is the monthly "bible" of jazz, blues and roots music.
“The Jazz Studies program at the Glenn Korff School of Music has been most fortunate to serve as a home and ‘launching pad’ for a pool of very talented and creative writers: Kara Baxter, Bobby Fuson, Dr. David von Kampen, Paul Krueger, Andrew Janak, Karl Lyden, Dr. Jeff Richmond, Chris Varga and the newly appointed Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of Jazz Composition at Gustavus Adophus College, Dr. Dave Stamps,” Richards said. “These talented musicians are beginning to receive major recognition in the form of commissions and engagements as composer-arrangers, teachers, conductors and guest artists. I know the opportunity to work with them keeps me challenged and energized. Their success is the best validation of the teaching they have received from all areas of the Glenn Korff School of Music.”