Debut Atlantic is pleased to announce that 13 year-old pianist Jocelyn Yang is the winner of the 2013 Debut Atlantic Award for Musical Excellence.  Yang is 13 and currently in grade 7 at Bedford South School.

“The Debut Atlantic Award for Musical Excellence is a very important part of our mandate to support and encourage the development of young musicians in Atlantic Canada.” says pianist Robert Kortgaard, Chair of Debut Atlantic. “We are very pleased to offer this commendation to Jocelyn Yang, a young pianist from Bedford, whose impressive application and high level of achievement for one so young indicates that she is a diligent, serious student. Her spirited and mature performance indicates that she enjoys bringing great music to life and it’s obvious that she is being well guided by her teachers and mentors. Debut Atlantic is privileged to be able to contribute to her musical development and we’re confident that her enthusiasm will inspire other young musicians.”

The Debut Atlantic Award for Musical Excellence consists of a $1,000 cash prize and an opportunity for the recipient to perform as a special guest at a Debut Atlantic concert. Jocelyn will receive her award and be featured in concert with Debut Atlantic Alumnus, the Tokai String Quartet. Her performance will be on Wednesday, March 13th at 7:30pm. The concert is being presented by the Intersections Concert Series and will be held at St. Andrews United Church in Halifax.

Born in Taiwan, Jocelyn began piano lessons at the age of 3. She has won a number of awards including several Kiwanis Festival Prizes as well as scholarships and trophies from the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers’ Association. She was a Laureate of the 2010 Canadian Music Competition Finals, held in Montreal, and is an ongoing recipient of support from the Nova Scotia Talent Trust. Jocelyn currently studies with Dalhousie University Professor Lynn Stodola.