December 2011 | Global Music Awards

Global Music Awards: December 2011 Honorees

Dr. John Daversa for his original and complex album, Junk Wagon: The Big Band Album. The music is not your grandfather’s big band sound; rather it’s what will likely be your grandchildren’s standard for big band sound. The album has a surprise at every turn and transcends expectations. Daversa also receives the GMA’s Award of Excellence for creativity/originality and for the quality of the album’s production. The John Daversa Progressive Big Band performs regularly in the Los Angeles area, having developed a steady following at the world famous Baked Potato. Daversa earned a bachelor’s degree from University of California Los Angeles, a master’s degree in jazz studies at California Institute of the Arts, and a doctor of musical arts degree in jazz studies at University of California’s Thornton School of Music. Daversa is currently teaching Jazz and Commercial Media Composition at California State University, Northridge.

Silver Medal Winners - Outstanding Achievement

The GMA’s Award of Excellence goes to Lori Bell for her album, Lori Bell, which features music of depth and outstanding arrangements of original composition. The Grammy Award panel recognized the album’s comprehensive excellence with selections in five categories, among them best instrumental arrangement, best composition, and best instrumental solo. Bell signed a multi-album deal with Resonance Records that includes the album, The Music of Djavan. She is instructor of flute in the jazz faculty at San Diego State University.

Dr. Sergio Gallo an Associate Professor at Georgia State University receives the GMA’s Award of Excellence for his album, Mostly Villa-Lobos: 20th Century Piano Music from the Americas, has a range of music from folk-inspired compositions to some of the most complex works in the 20th century piano repertoire. Gallo previously served as faculty at the University of North Dakota and Millikin University. He received his degrees from the Conservatoire Européen de Musique, the Franz Liszt Academy of Budapest, Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and University of California.

Zhiming Han of East West Entertainment receives GMA’s Award of Excellence for his album, Morning in the Forest, which is world fusion music with traditional and folk themes using Chinese instruments. Han also receives the GMA’s Award of Excellence for his original compositions of Xinjiang Dance and Westlake Romance. Han is also winner of the Henry Mancini Award for Film Composition and a voting member for Grammy Awards. He completed academic graduate study in music composition at University of California Los Angeles.

Bronze Medal Winners - Finalists

The GMA’s Award of Merit goes to Chris Kazmier in the motion picture soundtrack category for his original score in the movie Bled - The Next Chapter. Kazmier is also an award winning filmmaker for his film Ashley's Ashes in the Indie Fest.

Neil Mukherjee and Era Motion Pictures, Bangladesh, is honored with a GMA Award of Merit for the motion picture soundtrack from the movie, Loving the Other. In line with the motion picture’s theme of compassion and world peace, included are music elements from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Mukherjee works in Chennai and Mumbai and is involved in producing and composing music for advertising, films and documentaries.

Arlette Thomas Fletcher of Fruits of the Spirit Productions is honored with the GMA’s Award of Merit for her music videos, Lord Show Me the Way and You're Not Alone. Fletcher produces music videos and family films with family themes. Her music videos convey messages that provide inspiration to her audiences.

GMA awards its Award of Merit to Megan Makeever for her album, Unstoppable. Her songs bravely contain lyrics about personal themes such as body image, unrequited love, gratefulness and self-confidence. She has a broad appeal because she writes from experience about universal themes. Makeeveer is currently a flute performance major at St. Olaf College.

Purple Silk Music and the Great Wall Youth Orchestra receive the GMA’s Award of Merit in the category of student band for their performance of Galloping Soldiers, with conductor Wangpeng Guo and artistic director Sherlyn Chew. Student soloist Alejandro Chavez on the sheng receives the GMA’s Award of Merit for acoustic instrumental within a group. The student orchestra is located on the campus of Laney College.