INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Talented young artists from across the country were honored recently as Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, announced the winners of the 2006 Yamaha Young Performing Artist (YYPA) program. The program goes hand in hand with the Bands of America (BOA) Summer Symposium, and served as its kick-off concert. Both BOA and Yamaha's Education Department maintain corporate offices in Indianapolis.

The 2006 Yamaha Young Performing Artists: (Back, L-R) Steve Nishimura, Ross Leavitt, Jose Valentino Ruiz, Joshua Bledsoe (Front, L-R) Aaron Kleinstub, Jude Traxler

This year's national awards concert was held on Monday, June 26 at Braden Auditorium on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. Yamaha flutist James Walker was the featured guest. The winners were guests of Yamaha for a weekend of rehearsals, master classes, special awards concerts and social events.

The YYPA program is designed to provide early career recognition for outstanding young musicians in the United States. Hundreds of applicants, ages 16-21, apply annually and undergo a rigorous taped audition process for a panel of national celebrity musicians. The 2006 winners join a total of more than 150 others who have earned the distinction since the program's inception in 1989. Many have received scholarships to prestigious universities and conservatories, or are playing professionally with major jazz groups and top symphony orchestras.

Jazz saxophone winner Walter Blanding (1990) has performed or recorded with many artists including Cab Calloway and the Wynton Marsalis Septet. His first recording, Tough Young Tenors, was acclaimed as one of the best jazz albums of 1991. YYPA winner Ricardo Morales (1990) began his professional career as principal clarinet of the Florida Symphony Orchestra, and is currently principal clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Saxophonist Otis Murphy (1994) has won numerous awards and prizes that include 2nd Prize in the Adolphe Sax International Saxophone Competition and1st Prize in the Heida Hermanns Young Artist Competition. He joined the faculty of the Indiana University School of Music in 2001 at the age of 28, becoming one of the youngest faculty members in the history of the IU School of Music. Hornist Michelle Perry (1997) was a winner in the Houston Symphony's prestigious 2000 Ima Hogg International Solo Competition, and recently served as principal horn of the Malaysian Philharmonic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 2006 winners are:

Winner	Hometown	Instrument
Joshua Bledsoe	Tallahassee, Fla.	Trombone
Aaron Kleinstub	Chagrin Falls, Ohio	Trumpet
Ross Leavitt	Springfield, Ore.	Saxophone
Steve Nishimura	Ft. Wainwright, Alaska	Bass
Jose Valentino Ruiz	Tampa, Fla.	Flute
Jude Traxler	Baton Rouge, La.	Percussion

For more information about the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Program, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, 39 West Jackson Place, Suite 150, Indianapolis, IN 46225; call (317) 524-6270; email jwittmann@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/band.