Staccato Spotlight: Get to know the JEN Young Composer Showcase Selectees!
ArrangeMe is a proud sponsor of the Jazz Education Network’s Young Composer Showcase. This competition gives students and emerging composers 30 and under the opportunity to have their original work recognized and performed by internationally renowned performing groups on the JEN Stage.
We are pleased to recognize this year’s selectees and honorable mentions. Keep reading to learn more about these talented young composers!
Leo Codiga is a Montreal-based saxophonist and composer hailing from Boston, MA. Having completed his B.M. at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music this past year, he is an alumnus of the top-rated McGill Jazz Orchestra 1, a student of Remi Bolduc, and has several years of professional experience on the Montreal scene. He is also the recent winner of the Young Composer’s Prize at the 2024 ODD Sound Jazz Festival, a collaboration between Montreal labels ODD Sound and Effendi Records. In addition to being an in-demand sideman, Codiga is currently working on his first recording as the leader of the Southwest Corridor, one of Montreal’s most exciting new contemporary jazz groups. The band has featured at the ODD Sound Jazz Festival, the T.U. Jazz Festival, and won the small ensemble category in this year’s Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards.
Shiyu Fang is a Chinese pianist and composer whose work blends traditional jazz elements with innovative contemporary jazz compositional approaches. Currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Jazz Composition at Manhattan School of Music under the guidance of composer Darcy James Argue, Shiyu brings a distinct voice to contemporary jazz. Her compositions explore new sonic possibilities while honoring big band traditions. During her first year at Manhattan School of Music, her original big band composition was performed by the MSM Jazz Orchestra with vibraphonist Joe Locke. She also presented her arrangement of a Ron Miles piece at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center in April 2025. Prior to graduate school, Shiyu received the Berklee Toshiko Akiyoshi Award for jazz composition. Her studies have been supported by the Herb Pomeroy Scholarship and the Berklee World Tour Scholarship, providing her with educational opportunities and industry connections. As a member of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, Shiyu’s artistic development connects with her commitment to fostering inclusivity in jazz. She has studied with mentors including Kris Davis, Kevin Harris, Kenny Werner, Ayn Inserto, Billy Childs, Miguel Zenón, and Luis Perdomo—relationships that have informed her understanding of musical expression and composition. Shiyu has performed alongside jazz artists including Miguel Zenón, Jim McNeely, and Bijon Watson. Her arranging skills were recognized when the US Army Field Big Band selected her work for professional recording. In April 2023, Shiyu performed at The Vermont Solo Piano Jazz Festival as an Emerging Artist, sharing the program with pianists Dan Tepfer, Orrin Evans, Myra Melford, and Michael Weiss. Shiyu’s artistic practice extends to cross-disciplinary projects, including a collaboration with artist Rashid Johnson on “Antoine’s Organ” and a solo piano residency at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum— experiences that have expanded her creative range and artistic connections. The path in jazz continues to unfold for Shiyu, driven by her interest in innovation, collaboration, and community. She hopes to contribute positively to the jazz world by supporting diversity and creativity, working toward a more inclusive environment where different perspectives are valued.
Originally from the Hudson Valley region of New York, Jim Connolly is currently a Boston based Trombonist and composer. Jim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music, where he studied with Ayn Inserto and Greg Hopkins, and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Frank Carlberg, Ken Schaphorst Anna Webber and Kalia Vandever. Before earning his degrees, Jim served 5 years in the Marine Corps Band, where he served as a bass trombone instrumentalist and Assistant Enlisted Conductor with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band. With his music, Jim aims to sculpt unique soundscapes that entice both listeners and improvisers to carve their own narrative in the music.
Charlie Schmitt is a trumpet player and composer currently residing in Miami, FL. Born in Orlando, he first found his passion for music amidst Central Florida’s vibrant education programs and while learning from his trumpet teachers, John Almeida and the late Dan Miller. Charlie recently graduated from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, where he studied classical trumpet performance with soloist Jose Sibaja and wrote extensively for Vanderbilt’s Blue Note jazz combo, latin jazz combo, and Blair Big Band under the direction of Dr. Ryan Middagh. In addition to his musical studies, Charlie has conducted group research on archival materials from the estates of trumpeter and jazz pioneer John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie and the multi-instrumentalist, composer, and pedagogue Dr. Yusef A. Lateef, in an attempt to highlight each of their lives, works, and culminating legacies. Charlie is currently pursuing a master’s degree in jazz trumpet performance at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, under the tutelage of Etienne Charles and Brian Lynch.
Samyog Regmi is a guitarist, composer, and educator originally from Kathmandu, Nepal. After completing his undergraduate studies in ethnomusicology in his hometown, he pursued a Master’s in Jazz Guitar at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, studying under Jesse van Ruller. Inspired to further explore composition, he is currently enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music, studying Jazz Composition with Darcy James Argue. Samyog has written for various large ensembles and chamber groups, blending his diverse musical background into a distinct compositional voice. His recent project, Unpopular Opinion, showcases his writing in a smaller septet setting. As an educator, he has taught extensively at the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory and led masterclasses for emerging musicians. As a scholar, he co-authored an ethnomusicological research article published in HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies.
Congratulations again to the talented composers selected for the 2026 JEN Young Composer Showcase!
If you are a rising composer aged 30 or under, the application window for next year’s Showcase is now open through June 1, 2026. This program highlights emerging composers from around the world and offers a meaningful opportunity to share your music with a community of performers, educators, and fellow creators.
If you have an original jazz composition you are proud of, consider applying here, and take the next step in your journey as a composer!
