Two alumni entered a contest for young composers and thought their works might be too unconventional.

But Drew Zaremba ('13, '15 M.M.) and Garrett Wingfield ('16 M.M.) were both winners of 2018 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards presented by the ASCAP Foundation.

Zaremba, pictured, is a saxophonist and pianist who is pursuing a career as a composer, arranger and performer.

"The piece that won was one of my most ambitious to date in terms of its programmatic nature, so it's a huge honor and an encouragement, " Zaremba says.

Wingfield is moving to Los Angeles to work as a freelance composer and saxophonist.

"The brand of jazz and improvised music I like to write and perform is a bit wild and experimental," he says, "so to get support and national recognition for it is a great feeling."