Isaac Hanson: A Rising Star in Jazz Saxophone Honored with the 2024 YoungArts Award
Isaac Hanson, a remarkably talented alto saxophonist from Mahomet-Seymour High School in Mahomet, Illinois, has been named a 2024 YoungArts award winner in Jazz. This prestigious recognition places Hanson among nearly 700 of the nation’s most gifted young artists in various disciplines, including visual, literary, and performing arts.
Exceptional Talent Recognized The YoungArts award, known for its stringent selection criteria, highlights Hanson’s exceptional skill and dedication to jazz. Candidates undergo a rigorous adjudication process led by panels of highly esteemed artists specific to each discipline. Hanson’s achievement in jazz not only showcases his remarkable technique and artistic sensibility but also his commitment to mastering his craft.
Joining an Elite Community As a YoungArts awardee, Hanson joins an illustrious community of artists who receive continuous creative and professional development support throughout their careers. The 2024 cohort, comprising talented individuals aged 15–18 or in grades 10–12, can be found on the YoungArts website at youngarts.org/winners.
A Platform for Future Success YoungArts President Clive Chang expressed excitement about welcoming these young talents, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to nurturing their growth at a pivotal stage in their careers. YoungArts winners, including Hanson, have demonstrated exceptional technique and a profound dedication to their art forms. This year’s selection was especially competitive, with over 9,000 applicants across 10 artistic disciplines.
Each winner, including Hanson, receives a monetary award of $250 and gains eligibility for exclusive benefits. These include creative and professional development support, microgrants, financial awards, presentation opportunities with major venues and cultural partners, and access to YoungArts Post, a private online platform for networking and discovering new opportunities. Additionally, 2024 winners can participate in YoungArts Labs, all-expenses-paid learning intensives with leading artists in New York and Los Angeles.
A Legacy of Excellence Hanson now stands among a distinguished group of YoungArts alumni who have made significant impacts in their fields. This lineage includes notable names like Daniel Arsham, Terence Blanchard, Camille A. Brown, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Amanda Gorman, Judith Hill, Jennifer Koh, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Andrew Rannells, Desmond Richardson, and Hunter Schafer.
