Dave Mosko of Marlton has been selected as a winner of the 2019 Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition.
The annual program honors outstanding young musicians studying in the United States who excel in jazz, classical and contemporary genres, and is conducted by Yamaha, the world’s largest musical instrument manufacturer.
Mosko is one of only 11 musicians selected nationwide to earn this distinction.
Mosko joins more than 300 talented musicians who have been recognized by the program over the last 31 years. Many have established successful music careers, both as performers and educators, including Conrad Jones, principal trumpet of the Indianapolis Symphony; Leelanee Sterrett, French horn with the New York Philharmonic; Stephen Page, Yamaha performing artist and associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin; Aaron Parks, acclaimed jazz pianist; and Kyle Price, artistic director and founder of the Caroga Lake Music Festival and Caroga Arts Collective.
“For more than 30 years, the YYPA program has supported music education and helped foster the careers of young, aspiring musicians,” said John Wittmann, director of artist relations and education, Yamaha Artist Services. “We are thrilled to honor Dave for his remarkable talent at this phase of his music career and watch as he builds upon the YYPA legacy in his path to a promising future.”
Mosko is a trombonist studying at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University under the direction of Conrad Herwig.
This spring, he will complete his second year of undergraduate study in music performance with a focus in jazz studies.
He has studied under notable jazz figures such as Slide Hampton, Marshall Gilkes, Ed Neumeister and Ralph Bowen, and has performed with numerous artists such as Jon Faddis, Abraham Burton, Scott Wendholt and Dave Taylor.
In 2019, Mosko was named a finalist in the American Trombone Workshop Competition and the International Trombone Association’s Carl Fontana Soloist Competition.
Mosko is a member of the award-winning Scarlet Knight Jazz Trombones, as well as a composer, arranger and educator from the Philadelphia area.
Mosko and the other 2019 YYPA winners each receive an all-expense-paid trip to the YYPA Celebration Weekend, June 22 to June 25.
The celebration will take place during the Music for All Summer Symposium, June 22 to June 29, at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
This opportunity will allow the young artists to perform in front of thousands, receive national press coverage and participate in workshops designed to help them launch a professional music career.
The 2019 winners will perform with renowned international jazz artist and Yamaha Performing Artist, Anders Astrand at the annual YYPA Concert on June 24
For more information about the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Program, email jgascho@yamaha.com or visit https://yamaha.io/YYPA.
