The National YoungArts Foundation based in Miami, Florida just announced its list of 2017 winners — 691 of the US’s most promising young artists in the literary, visual, design and performing arts were declared winners.
Among that list is Bahamian jazz trumpeter Giveton Gelin who was awarded as a Finalist, the organization’s highest honour. Selected through a blind adjudication process conducted by an independent panel of highly accomplished artists, the 2017 winners represent the top 8.67% of applications and include only 166 Finalists.
Upon hearing the news, Giveton posted on his Facebook page, “I am excited and honoured to be chosen as a 2017 YoungArts Finalist! Looking forward to being in Miami and playing with some great players!”
Selected from the largest pool of applicants to date (over 12,000+) and representing artists from 40 states, YoungArts winners receive cash awards of up to $10,000, mentorship and training from acclaimed artists, opportunities to participate in YoungArts programmes, and guidance in taking important steps toward achieving their artistic goals.
As a young boy, Giveton first started first playing the drums in his father’s church. He then moved to the piano, but it wasn’t until later, when he picked up the trumpet, that he really started taking music seriously.
From the age of 10, Giveton (now 17) taught himself how to play the trumpet simply by emulating what he would hear on his favorite records. Pursuing jazz was difficult for Giveton as he lacked an environment to develop. But that didn’t deter this young talent from pursuing that which was on the inside of him. After years of self-tutelage and practice, a watershed moment fell into place when he witnessed Bahamian musician and double bass player Adrian D’Aguilar playing jazz music live at an event. Giveton’s world shifted; it was then he realized “there was a place for jazz in The Bahamas!”
Giveton, far right, playing with mentor Adrian D’Aguilar (next to him on bass) and The Jazz Cats
This life-changing encounter set Giveton on course and has led him to multiple experiences he never thought he would have including being taken under the wing of an experienced musician in D’Aguilar, becoming an integral member of the jazz band–The Jazz Cats–which D’Aguilar formed to raise awareness of jazz in the Bahamian community, to taking part in music programmes abroad such as The Manhattan School of Music Summer Camp, to performing at Jazz festivals with top class, world renowned jazz musicians, not to mention being mentored by some of these musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Nicholas Payton, Eddie Henderson, Barry Harris, Billy Hart, Gary Bartz and many more.
Did I mention he is only 17 years old?
In just seven short years, Giveton has excelled in his musical growth. He has experienced more than most young men his age and all this hard work and sheer talent culminated in March of this year when he was accepted to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music on a full-ride scholarship for the Fall 2016 semester to obtain his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies with Jazz Trumpet as his principal area of personal study.
With the YoungArts Finalist award, Giveton will have the opportunity to participate in the 36th annual National YoungArts Week in Miami, Florida from January 8 to 15, 2017. He will become part of a professional network of over 20,000 alumni artists and will be eligible to participate in YoungArts’ regional programmes, including YoungArts Miami (February 21–26, 2017), YoungArts Los Angeles (March 28–April 2, 2017) and YoungArts New York (April 25–30, 2017).
Congratulations Giveton! We are all happy for you and proud of your success.
Photo credits: top - Bahamian jazz trumpeter Giveton Gelin (Photo: Alessandro Sarno)
Source: Smith & Benjamin’s ‘Bahamian Art & Culture’ | Issue No. 285
