C.V.

  Kevin Sun

EDUCATION

Harvard University                                                                                              Cambridge, MA

Bachelor of Arts expected May 2014. Concentration in English.

New England Conservatory                                                                                Boston, MA

Master of Music in Jazz Performance (tenor saxophone), expected May 2015. Studying or has studied privately with Donny McCaslin, Jerry Bergonzi, Miguel Zenòn, Luis Bonilla, and Ken Schaphorst

Manhattan School of Music                                                                                 New York, NY

Precollege Jazz Division (September 2008–May 2010); Completed coursework in jazz composition, advanced jazz theory, and jazz history. Studied privately with Dr. Felipe Salles (UMass Amherst).

PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCE

Harvard University Monday Night Jazz Band                                                    Sept 2010-present

·  Performed with jazz legends Roy Haynes, Benny Golson, Brian Lynch, and Don Braden on 40 Years of Jazz at Harvard Celebration Concert, April 2011

2010 Grammy Jazz Ensemble                                                                                Feb. 2010

·  Played 1^st tenor saxophone in the ensemble of high school jazz musicians selected internationally; performed at the Los Angeles Convention Center at the 52^nd Annual Grammy Awards After Party

·  Recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood—album available on iTunes: “Grammy Jazz Ensembles” (2010)

·  Shared the stage with jazz legends including the late saxophonist James Moody, guitarist Kenny Burrell, and Chucho Valdés

Jazz Band Classic — New York Youth Symphony                                              Sept. 2009-Jan. 2010

·  Played 1^st tenor saxophone and rehearsed weekly in New York City — comprised of collegiate musicians from elite music conservatories and several high school students

·  Performed with jazz legend Rich Perry at the Garage Restaurant and Café in Greenwich Village and at Symphony Space on the Upper West Side in Manhattan

·  Featured soloist on tenor saxophone and clarinet in Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall — The Nutcracker Suite (Tchaikovsky, arranged by Duke Ellington); on-stage opposite the NYYS

Princeton University Jazz Program                                                                       Sept 2008-May 2010

·  Played 1^st tenor saxophone in Princeton’s large jazz ensemble, performing as a featured soloist on both saxophone and clarinet — The Music of Mary Lou Williams (May 2010), The Music of Oliver Nelson (Feb. 2010), The Music of Duke Ellington (Oct. 2009), world premiere of Laurie Altman’s commissioned work “In Another Time” jointly with Fuma Sucra and the Princeton University Sinfonia (May 2009)

·  Featured as composer and performer with the Princeton University Jazz Composers Collective on the CD “Onwards” (2011), released by PUJE Productions.

Composing Credits

·  “Blues in the Long Form” — Original Work for the Harvard Wind Ensemble, April 2012

·  “Displacement” (for Shakuhachi and Pipa) — Composed for the Silk Road Ensemble, Jan. 2012

·  “As We Know It” — Theme Music for “As We Know It,” WHRB News Weekly Broadcast, Feb. 2011

Freelance Work / Miscellaneous   

·  Clarinetist for a production of Steven Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" by the Princeton Summer Theater, June 2012
·  Clarinetist for the premiere of new opera Hart Crane at Cambridge's Loeb Drama Center, April 2012

·  Performed on WHRB (95.3 FM) Jazz Live Lunch Friday radio broadcast — duo with Malcolm Campbell, April 13, 2012

·  Profiled by The Crimson: Hilgartner, Nathan O. “Portrait of an Artist: Chase E. Morrin ’15and Kevin Sun ’14.” 28 February 2012

·  Organized and performed in The Music of Thelonious Monk — Winthrop House, Feb. 2012

·  Musical background, “Smooth Jazz”, Mainly Jazz Dance Company’s spring production: The Harvard Art Review, 17 April 2011

·  Reviewed on Boston.com: “Kevin Sun took an especially impressively solo on the Mingus tune…” — Buettler, Bill. “Honoring Harvard’s jazz past.” Boston.com, April 11, 2011

·  Led a trio to perform standards and original compositions on WHRB (95.3 FM) Jazz Live Lunch Friday radio broadcast, Feb. 2011

·  Performed as a sideman at a fundraiser at the Charles Hotel — Cambridge, MA, Oct. 2010

·  Interviewed in Downbeat Magazine: Kailus, Katie. “To Each His Own.” Downbeat: June 2010, Vol. 78

AWARDS & HONORS

·  Associated College Press Feature Story of the Year Award, finalist, 2013

·  ­Vandoren Emerging Artist, Jazz Competition Winner, 2013

·  ­Yamaha Young Performing Artists, Jazz Competition Winner, 2012

·  ­Office of the Arts Artist Development Fellowship — to attend the Banff Summer JazzWorkshop, 2012

·  Harvard Club Horblit Combo Jazz Festival Winner, 2012

·  Finalist, Jacob Wendell Scholarship Prize, 2012

·  33^rd Annual Downbeat Magazine Student Awards: High School Jazz Soloist Winner, 2010

·  33^rd Annual Downbeat Magazine Student Awards: High School Jazz Ensemble Winner, 2010

·  GRAMMYJazz Ensemble Selectee— 1^st Tenor saxophonist, 2010

·  Honorable Mention, National Foundation for the Arts YoungArts Jazz Competition, 2010

·  Outstanding Soloist Award, Charles Mingus Combo and Big Band Competition, 2009, 2010

·  Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony Selectee, 2009

MEDIA EXPERIENCE

Fifteen Minutes (FM) Magazine of the Harvard Crimson                              Cambridge, MA            

Associate Editor                                                                                                        Dec 2010–present

·  Attended and reported on campus events sponsored by various student organizations such as the Society of Physics Students and Harvard administrative offices such as the Office of Career Services

·  Conducted research for forthcoming articles, including preparing full-length interview transcriptions

·  Conducted in-person, email, and phone interviews; interviewees included Harvard cancer researchers, college professors, recreational power-lifters, finance students, local musicians, video game designers

·  Wrote both creative and reporting-based journalistic pieces, including a humorous article celebrating the release of Harry Potter 7: Part I, which accounted for 27% of thecrimson.com’s page views (Nov. 2010)

·  Notable pieces include: “The Word: Ketchup” (Spring 2012), “The Dilemma of the Radical” (Spring 2012), “Who is Louis Menand?” (Fall 2011), “Love Stories” (Spring 2011),

WHRB News 95.3FM                                                                                          Cambridge, MA           

Director, News Correspondent, Producer, Show Host, Theme Music Composer               Dec 2010–Sept 2011           

·  Attended public events such as local political rallies to obtain audio and attendee comments for stories

·  Conducted online research for forthcoming stories and assembled preparatory material for interviews

·  Conducted in-person studio and phone interviews; interviewees included local business owners (clothing boutiques, restaurants), chefs, charter school directors, higher education researchers, college professors

·  Contributed weekly story ideas by reading about current events, new film/theatre/book releases, et al.

·  Hosted the weekly half-hour live broadcast “From Across the Yard”

·  Produced, recorded, and digitally edited and mixed down pieces using Adobe Audition

·  Researched, wrote, and read nightly headline news briefs live over the air

-->

WORK EXPERIENCE

The Leonard Lopate Show — WNYC                                                                  New York, NY           

Intern                                                                                                                 May 2011–August 2011

·  Conducted research for professional live radio interviews on a broad variety of topics: working conditions in the American tomato industry, the 2001 American anthraxattacks, history of literary pseudonyms, etc.

·  Wrote complete sets of interview questions and introductory remarks for segments

·  Took large numbers of listeners’ calls and quickly screened callers for suitability in the broadcast studio

·  Provided real-time support for interviewer via instant messaging computer system

·  Evaluated and cataloged incoming media and books — used Microsoft Open Access

·  Wrote summaries for upcoming show segments to serve as template for web copy, on-air reading, etc.

·  Contacted publicists and interviewees to request, schedule, and confirm forthcoming interviews