Maya Morrison | 2023 Winner

Maya Morrison is an eighteen year old native of Akron, Ohio. As a trombone student, Maya has studied with Dr. Elisabeth Shafer and most recently with Dr. Lauren Rudzinskas. Currently, Maya is studying psychology and music performance at The University of Akron. Maya plans to become a Music Therapist in order to help people who are struggling. As a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship and a Music Honors Scholarship from The University of Akron, Maya takes her studies and musicianship extremely seriously.

During Maya’s time in high school, she was first chair trombone of her High School’s Marching Band, Jazz Band, Funk Band, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band. Maya was also the low brass section leader during her junior and senior years of high school. As a leader, Maya’s sections developed into strong independent sections that provided a powerful foundation to their ensembles. In addition to being a leader amongst her peers, Maya is dedicated to helping young musicians reach their highest potential. Maya volunteers by giving lessons to middle school students, and is also an avid advocate of the incredible importance of music in the life of young people.

As a young performer, Maya has had many opportunities and much success. In December 2022 Maya earned a seat in The Ohio Band Directors Conference Honors Band at the University of Akron. Maya also played in the University of Akron’s first Honors Brass Ensemble in March of 2023. Maya performed alongside The University of Akron’s Trombone Choir as a guest high school student and will continue to do so as a college student. As a soloist, Maya has received high praise and superior ratings for her warm tone and mature musicianship.

A note from Ginger Turner:

“I am thrilled to be awarding the Penny Turner Young Artist Award to Ms. Maya Morrison. The team of judges really struggled this year because of the quality of the candidates. Maya’s accomplishments are too numerous to list here but I assure you we have selected a young lady that we will be hearing about for years to come. I’d like to thank Dillon Music for their sponsorship of this award, and my Mom’s generosity in gifting this award. Thanks to IWBC and the judge panel for their time and dedication.”

Jade Park | 2022 Winner

Jade Park is a fourteen-year-old trumpet performer from Australia and has earned a LMusA Diploma with Distinction in Trumpet, Australian Music Examination Board in 2021. She is a full music scholarship student at St. Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney and a scholarship recipient at the Rising Star Program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

In Australia, Jade has performed in multiple masterclasses and won numerous competitions. She has been a member of Australian Youth Orchestra and a finalist at Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra Concerto Competitions in 2021 and 2022.

The past years have been full of exciting musical opportunities and accolades for Jade. She was awarded the first prize and Exceptional Young Talent Prize at the Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition and was invited to perform in Rome, Italy and Carnegie Hall, New York. She has been awarded ITG Conference Scholarships, as well as being a finalist at ITG Youth Competitions in Miami and San Antonio in the USA. In 2020, Jade was the ITG Young Artist Award winner.

A note from Ginger Turner:

“It was very exciting to award the Penny Turner Young Artist Award to Ms. Jade Park at the IWBC conference. She was only 14 when nominated by Carole D. Reinhart and had already received numerous awards in her home country of Australia. It is very hard to pick a winner for this award because there are so many good candidates. She had taken many lessons online with Carole D. Reinhart and then made the opportunity to travel to Austria to meet in person. I’m sure it was a thrill of a lifetime for both student and teacher. I’d like to thank Dillon Music for their sponsorship of this award, I’m sure my Mom is smiling down on Jade and we will continue to follow her career for years to come. Thanks to IWBC and the judge panel for their time and dedication.”

Amaya Sydor | 2021 Winner

In early 2021, applications were accepted for the fourth annual Penny Turner Young Artist Award, a scholarship competition created by IWBC Board Member Ginger Turner in honor of her late mother, Penny Turner. The competition is open to all female brass players between the ages of 12-18; their music teachers or private instructors may nominate competitors.  After review of the applicants by a select committee, Amaya Sydor, a bass trombonist from Manitoba, Canada was selected as the winner.

Amaya’s commitment to music, as well as her successful pursuit of a breadth of musical opportunities is detailed in the nomination letter submitted by her teachers, Wendy Zander McCallum and Meaghan Graham:

Amaya is an exceptional musician that has excelled in her school program, in the Brandon University Symphonic Band, and in competitive opportunities at the provincial and national level. Each year, she has played in local honour ensembles – the Westman Honour Band and our provincial Manitoba Honour Band. In her grade 11 year, she was accepted for the bass trombone chair for the prestigious National Youth Band of Canada (Ages 16-22). In addition to playing the bass trombone, Amaya is also a talented tenor trombone and euphonium player. Amaya studies privately with Dr. Aaron Wilson, and she consistently receives recognition from festival adjudicators and masterclass leaders. Because of Amaya’s focus, she is able to participate with Brandon University’s School of Music students in advanced ensembles and contribute meaningfully in these settings. Accompanying her musicianship skills, Amaya is a strong academic, a volunteer, and a student leader. At Vincent Massey, she leads sectionals and provides individual coaching for peers from multiple divisional programs. Through nomination by all instrumental music educators in the Brandon School Division, Amaya received the Manitoba Band Association’s Marlene Stephen Memorial Leadership Award. Amaya has also received scholarships from Vincent Massey High School, the Brandon Festival of the Arts and the Westman Jams. These scholarships have helped her invest in her development as she has attended events including the International Music Camp (IMC) and the Manitoba Honour Band programs. Earlier this year, Amaya performed in the Brandon Festival of the Arts where she won the sole brass award, the Beta Sigma Phi Trophy. She was also the recipient of the “Ken Epp Award” at the Dauphin (Manitoba) band camp and received the ‘Outstanding Camper Certificate” at IMC (North Dakota). In-person ensembles have been paused in the Brandon School Division and at Brandon University since March 2020, but Amaya has shown great resilience . Despite challenges of the pandemic, Amaya has persevered and thrived in her studies this year. She has connected with musicians across Manitoba, Canada and North America and is working on various projects. We would be pleased to answer additional questions about Amaya Sydor’s continuous pursuit of excellence and her generous and humble contributions to music and music education. 

Amaya has received a $400 gift certificate from Dillon Music, a one-year membership to the International Women’s Brass Conference, free conference registration, and will be highlighted as part of our Brass Flexibilities Series. Congratulations Amaya – we wish you continued success and hope to see you at one of our conferences in the future!

Hattie Asker | 2020 Winner

In February of this year applications were accepted for the third annual Penny Turner Young Artist Award, a scholarship competition created by IWBC Board Member Ginger Turner in honor of her late mother, Penny Turner. The competition is open to all female brass players between the ages of 12-18; their music teachers or private instructors may nominate competitors.  After review of the applicants by a select committee,

Hattie Asker, a trumpet and flugel player from London, UK was selected as the winner.

Hattie’s commitment to music, as well as her successful pursuit of a breadth of musical opportunities is detailed in the nomination letter submitted by her private instructor, Bruce Nockles:

Hattie, 15, is a trumpeter and flugel player from London, UK. From the age of 8 to 11 she had trumpet lessons in a group at school before auditioning for a place at the Junior department of the Trinity Laban Conservatoire where she studies trumpet.

Five years ago Hattie joined the junior section of Kinetika Bloco, a British carnival band. She now plays with the main Bloco through which she has visited Oslo where she performed for the Norwegian Royal family, been on tour to New Orleans and played at venues including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and the Royal Albert Hall.

At age 12, Hattie set up and ran a brass band for children in the community, arranging parts according to the notes the children knew. Every December, the band leads a community Christmas sing-along. She assists a local music teacher with the running of a community brass band, taking responsibility for coaching the beginner players, some of whom she also gives lessons to at home. 

At Junior Trinity Hattie studies trumpet and performs in the wind orchestra, brass quintet and Big Band. She regularly plays lead trumpet in the quintet and takes solos in Sam Bullard’s Big Band, performing with each ensemble in some of London’s iconic venues including Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College. 

Hattie has received a $400 gift certificate from Dillon Music and a one-year membership to the International Women’s Brass Conference.

Congratulations Hattie – we wish you continued success and hope to see you at one of our conferences in the future!

Rachel Petrovich| 2019 Winner

In February of this year applications were accepted for the second annual Penny Turner Young Artist Award, a scholarship competition created by IWBC Board Member Ginger Turner in honor of her late mother, Penny Turner. The competition is open to all female brass players between the ages of 12-18; their music teachers or private instructors may nominate competitors.  After review of the applicants by a select committee, Rachel Petrovich, a trombone player from Vienna, Virginia was selected as the winner.

Rachel’s dedication to music and her drive to create opportunities are detailed in the nomination letter submitted by her private trombone instructor, John McGinness:

In addition to excelling as a two-year member of the Symphonic Band at Kilmer Middle School, as an eighth grader Rachel helped found the Kilmer Jazz Band Club.  She coordinated with her faculty advisor and band director, Sharon Bonneau, to recruit members, select music, and lead rehearsals.  At James Madison High School Rachel auditioned into the Wind Symphony as a freshman and has served as its Principal Trombone during her sophomore year.  She is also a member of the JMHS Jazz Band and the JMHS Marching Band.  Rachel earned a place in the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association District 12 bands as a freshman and a sophomore, placing high enough in the January 2019 audition to be one of four trombonists from District 12 qualified to audition for Virginia All-State Band.

In her community Rachel is the manager, arranger, composer, and trombonist for “The Vienna Essentials.”  This ad hoc performing group was formed in 2016 by Rachel and several friends and performs regularly at nursing homes and community events.  Rachel composes and arranges songs for mixed woodwind, brass, and string ensembles for these performances. 

Rachel has received a $400 gift certificate from Dillon Music and a one-year membership to the International Women’s Brass Conference. Congratulations Rachel – we wish you continued success and hope to see you at one of our conferences in the future!

Brigit Johnson| 2018 Winner

After review of the applicants by a select committee, Brigit Johnson, a euphonium player from Santa Fe, New Mexico was selected as the winner.

Brigit Johnson began her musical career by studying piano at 6 years old, and then starting the euphonium at 11 years old. During her freshman year of high school she joined her school’s marching band, the Santa Fe High School Demon Pride Band, and went on to become drum major beginning in her sophomore year. During her time with the Demon Pride Band she participated in the District 4 Honor Band and Southwest Honor Band, in addition to being chosen for the New Mexico All-State Band three times, and the NAfME All-National Honor Band three times. Brigit has studied under Laura Eberhardt, William Waag, Robert Chrisman, and Kevin Wass. For the 2018 school year she will be a rising senior at Santa Fe High School, and hopes to major in music education in college.

The nomination letter from Brigit’s private instructor, Laura Eberhardt, details her dedication to music:

“Brigit has consistently received superior and excellent ratings at the District Solo and Ensemble Festival, beginning her 6th grade year after playing for 6 months. The last two years she received the “Best in Room” plaque performing college level repertoire.

As well, Brigit has made numerous honor bands, including District 4 Honor Band, New Mexico All-State, Southwest Honor Band, the Fort Lewis College Select Band Clinic, and the NAfME National Honor Band. This year she placed first chair in the New Mexico All-State Symphonic Band.

Brigit is also a committed member of the community music scene. She plays trombone in the Santa Fe Youth Symphony, and euphonium in the Santa Fe Concert Band and High Desert Winds. The Concert Band and High Desert Winds are both primarily comprised of adults, and I am always impressed with Brigit’s poise and maturity when playing with adults. Even at a young age, she understands that music can blossom into a lifelong pursuit.”

Brigit has received a $400 gift certificate from Dillon Music and a one-year membership to the International Women’s Brass Conference. Congratulations Brigit – we wish you continued success and hope to see you at our 2019 conference in Arizona!