Two William Paterson University Alumni Named Semifinalists in Prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition Vuyolwethu Sotashe Two William Paterson University alumni—Vuyolwethu Sotashe, a 2015 graduate with a master’s degree in music, and Lucy Yeghiazaryan, a 2014 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history—are among the 11 semifinalists selected for the 2015 Thelonius Monk Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition, to be held November 14 and 15 in Los Angeles, California. Each semifinalist will perform a 15-minute set on November 14 accompanied by pianist Reginald Thomas, bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Carl Allen, who is a 1983 graduate of William Paterson’s jazz program. Judges for the competition include renowned singers Patti Austin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Freddy Cole, Al Jarreau and Luciana Souza. Three finalists will compete on November 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, followed by a gala concert honoring producer Quincy Jones. The Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition is widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious jazz competition. Each year, the Competition features a different musical instrument, and major scholarships and prizes are awarded to talented young musicians. Numerous participants have forged successful careers as performing and recording artists and music educators. Justin Kauflin ‘08 was a semifinalist in the 2011 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, an experience that was chronicled in Keep on Keepin’ On, the 2014 award-winning documentary about his relationship with the late jazz trumpeter Clark Terry, Sotashe, from Butterworth, South Africa, moved to the New York City in 2013 after being awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue his master of music degree at William Paterson University. He won first prize at the first Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Vocal Competition in 2014, and performed on the festival’s main stage in February 2015. More recently, he won the Audience prize award and placed second overall at the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition in 2015, held at the annual Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He has performed at jazz festivals in Italy, Sweden, and South Africa, and was the winner of the most prominent music scholarship competition in South Africa, the South African Music Rights Foundation Scholarship, where he performed for the former South African President Thabo Mbeki. He is currently performing around New York City with the drummer Winard Harper. Yeghiazaryan, who is a singer and a violinist, was born in a small town in Armenia, where as a child, she studied classical violin at the National Conservatory. She moved to the United States at age 11, and became a scholarship student at NJPAC’s Jazz for Teens Program. She has been an active member of the New York/New Jersey jazz community, performing at a variety of venues including appearances with her own trio. Yeghiazaryan is a member of the trio the YY Sisters with her sister Tatev Yeghizaryan and Kate Victor, which performs traditional Armenian music, and of the music ensemble Soundsketch. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history, magna cum laude, from William Paterson. 10/15/15
