Student's neo-baroque style wins 2nd place in the Composer's Contest

By Laura Frey

When asked what his favorite type of music was, Zach Sershon responded with, “Fast and furious.” 

It soon became apparent that he not only likes listening to this style of music, but also plays in a very similar manner.  Sitting on the bench, his hands danced across the keys with such speed, accuracy and intensity that it was clear that he wasn’t so much thinking about which notes to hit, but feeling it. 

Sershon, an NCC student studying music, recently placed second in the Composer’s Contest on March 15, his first contest of this sort ever. In order to compete, students had to compose a lengthy piece to perform in front of a panel of judges.  Working diligently six hours a day for two weeks finally paid off with a finished 11 minute piece. 

Laughing he says, “I basically lived with the piano for a few weeks there.  I’d go to class, then lock myself up and edit the score.  I was actually working on it up until the day of the performance…I came to school that day, dropped it off, and took a much needed nap.”  Sershon describes the style of his piece as, “Bach-ish but with a more contemporary twist.  Sounds kind of like ‘Neo-baroque’.” 

Every musician finds motivation in different places.  For Sershon, his inspiration came from some unexpected sources.  “This may sound weird, but I got some ideas for themes from listening to Japanese orchestra video game music combined with a harpsichord D minor Bach concerto.”

Talented in many different areas of music, Sershon plays the guitar, harmonica, drums, ukulele, er-hu (a Chinese violin), harpsichord, and his favorite, the piano.  Learning all this took some time.  He was classically trained with teachers until turning 17, when he branched out and decided to begin composing his own music and self-teach. 

Getting second place in the contest was extremely rewarding for Sershon.  He explains that, “Being a musician is definitely a hard way to make a living.  It’s not often that your work gets acknowledged or rewarded, so when it does, it feels great.  It’s really satisfying to share a part of your soul with people.  I think that the reason music is so popular is that people can see a part of themselves in the music and it brings us together.”

Some of Sershon’s personal favorite musicians and bands are Rush, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Nachieto Herrera, Dream Theatre and Boston.  Driving in the car, he says he always has the radio tuned into The Current.  Obviously a true rock soul, Sershon also plays in a band called, “Out of the Blue.”  “It’s a group of five guys and we mostly do gigs at bars.  Actually, we have one coming up in Apple Valley..April 14, 8 p.m.…get people to go!”

Looking to the future, Sershon dreams of one day writing whole scores for an orchestra, possibly being in a rock-band of his own, releasing a techno CD he’s been working on for two years, and composing some Romantic Jazz. 

Before leaving, Sershon sums things up and says, “Basically, when I write music, it’s pretty simple, I just compose something that I’d actually want to hear!”