ANNA YOUNG

Acclaimed nationally by listeners, colleagues, and mentors, Anna Young has been described as having “purpose in her musical endeavors”.  Throughout her thorough yet budding career, Anna has earned a reputation for her versatility and ability to make her mark on the minds and hearts of everyone around her, through her music.  Performing at various concert venues, ranging from Carnegie Hall, to The Mercury Lounge, Anna has been an entertaining force with her audience.  Anna’s ability to perform fluently in a wide array of genres has garnered her praise, winning the 2015 Duke Ellington Improvisation Award and the 2018 All-City Jazz Award, as well as elected leadership positions in branches of the Percussive Arts Society in 2021 and invitations to perform with high level artists on various instruments.

The New York City born and raised musician began composing original music at a very young age.  Attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Anna Young was invited to join the prestigious New Music Ensemble, a collective of young songwriters who worked together to bring their songs to life with some of NYC’s best young musicians.  Earning the Charles Fox Composition Award in 2017, Anna went on to continue to compose music, being the primary songwriter and arranger for the pop-funk band, Quail.  Anna’s first release, “Blue Sky”,  has been streamed over 1.3 million times on Spotify alone.  Anna draws inspiration from a wide variety of artists, which is evident in her genre crossing music.  Her driving force in performing and writing is to create connections with her audience.  She is inspired by seeing audiences sing her lyrics back to her and dance to the music.  Currently, Anna is working on more original music and frequently co-writing with other artists.  Anna also serves as a composer for the Young Dancemakers Company, producing and recording original compositions for original choreography by NYC public high school students.

Anna has been performing primarily as a bassist and percussionist for over 10 years.  Getting her start on the New York City scene, she regularly performed at The Bitter End and Rockwood Music Hall throughout her teenhood with various artists.  While residing and attending college in Ithaca, NY, Anna performed in many local ensembles including the Ithaca College Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band and in principal chairs in both the Jazz Ensemble and Wind Symphony.  In addition to being the primary songwriter, she performed as the band leader and bassist for Quail, playing at venues throughout the region including The Haunt and Funk ‘n Waffles.  Whilst in this band, she had the opportunity to perform alongside artists such as Sammy Rae & The Friends, Shubh Saran, Christian French, and as headliners in the Vulfpeck adjacent Live From Lonely Town and the Soulful Spring music festivals.  Since returning to New York in 2023, Anna Young has been performing with many artists including rock-bands Hero and My Friend Noel, funk band Mungos List, and Mariah Lyttle, who is currently performing with Broadway’s The Wiz.

Anna holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College and is currently earning a Master of Arts in Music and Music Education from Teachers College at Columbia University.  Anna earned the Peggy Ryan Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership in 2021. In addition to working as a freelance musician and recording artist, specializing in electric bass and drums, Anna runs a private lesson studio and serves as a teaching artist with the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, a free music laboratory in NYC that connects music with STEM.  Anna also works as a substitute teacher in the NYC Department of Education.