ASU School of Music graduate student receives prestigious ASCAP award

Katelyn Vincent, Arizona State University School of MusicThe School of Music is part of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Master of Music in composition student, was awarded an "Honorable Mention" from the 2018 ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Awards for her big band chart "Unfinished Business."

The chart was recorded at Tempest Studios by Clarke Rigsby and premiered by the ASU Concert Jazz Band under the direction of Michael Kocour, professor in the School of Music

"This chart is different than any other project I've ever taken on,” Vincent said. “Professor Jody Rockmaker really challenged me to write a piece based on gesture, and I think I succeeded in that regard. My style is very different from much of the big band music presented at ASU Jazz Ensemble concerts. I am very humbled to have had the support of both the composition and jazz faculty in completing this endeavor."

Vincent credits Jeff Libman, director of the ASU Jazz Repertory Band, as the original source of inspiration for beginning the chart. She said Libman knew she was interested in writing for big band and had seen some of her previous work, so he asked Vincent if she would write a piece for the ensemble.

Vincent has been invited to the awards ceremony in February, where she will meet the judges of the competition: Sylvie Courvoisier, Wycliffe Gordon and Sachal Vasandani. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional organization of 650,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers.

"I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to mingle with jazz legends and world class musicians at this event,” Vincent said. “This award definitely lit a fire for me. I am beyond excited to see where I can go from here!"

For the official press release on this year's award recipients visit the ASCAP website.

Listen to the recording of Vincent’s "Unfinished Business" on her Soundcloud page.