Dizzy Gillespie College Awards 2026
- info@yljc.org
- Jun 4
- 1 min read
Young Lions Jazz Conservatory is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Dizzy Gillespie College Awards. Named in honor of the legendary trumpeter who personally mentored YLJC Artistic Director Gilbert Castellanos and helped him secure a full presidential scholarship to Berklee College of Music, these awards carry on that same spirit of generosity and inspiration. Established in memory of Jerry Witt, they support graduating YLJC students as they take their next step in life, regardless of the path they choose.
Annie Verkoczy | Winner | $5,000
A pianist graduating from Cathedral Catholic High School, Annie will be attending UC Berkeley in the fall, where she plans to double major in Music and Global Studies on the pre-law track.
Alex Flores | Distinguished Honoree | $1,500
A pianist graduating from Mission Bay High School, Alex will be attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, majoring in Mechanical Engineering, and plans to continue playing music through classes at SLO.
Elias Nuspl | Honorable Mention | $1,000
A trumpeter also graduating from Mission Bay High School, Elias will be attending UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music, majoring in Music Industry, with plans to pursue a career both on and off the stage.
Congratulations to Annie, Alex, and Elias! We are so proud of you and grateful to have shared in this part of your journey. 👏
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