First Place: Croquembouche Musette, by Jakob Bean Croquembouche Musette sound file

Jakob Bean is a an Accordionist, Trombonist and Composer/Arranger based in the greater Puget Sound and Leavenworth area in Washington state. Jake studied Trombone Performance and Composition at Central Washington University where he honed his skills in writing in march and waltz styles for wind ensemble. Jake’s strong Swiss and Norwegian background and love of traditional folk music lead him into teaching himself the accordion seven years ago so he could become more familiarized with his roots.

Jake currently serves as an accordionist at dozens of assisted living communities and also performs regularly at a bar in Leavenworth called “Andreas Keller” where he plays polkas for the patrons there. In addition, he accompanies the Finnish dance group of Seattle, the Norwegian Ladies Chorus of Seattle, and the Swiss Ladies Chorus of Bonney Lake. He also leads the Gazebo Accordion Ensemble in Leavenworth during the Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration.

Jakob’s Croquembouche Musette is a brilliant, clever, and delightful example of the French street music genre and was composed for his “loving girlfriend” Crystal. The recording here was performed by the very talented Michael Bridge. Jakob also took second place in the 2023 AAA Composition Contest for his solo Walt’s Curse (about which see below).

For more information about Jakob, visit his website jakebeanaccordion.com where you can find and purchase the score to this and other pieces he has composed and/or arranged.

2025 Second Place: Toccata-burletta by Dražan Kosorić

Dražan Kosorić, a native of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a professor at the Academy of Music of the University of East Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), studied composition and accordion at the State Music Academy A. V. Nezhdanova in Odessa, Ukraine in 2003 and completed Master studies at the Academy of Music of the University of East Sarajevo in 2011 and 2014.

He has composed symphonic, chamber, instrumental and vocal-instrumental works that have been performed in Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Poland, Singapore, and China and has received awards in Ukraine (GraduS ad Parnasuum, 2003), Serbia (International Manifestation Days of Accordion, Smederevo 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2011), Austria (Best New Original Work / Classical / – 67th Coupe Mondiale /World Accordion Championships, Salzburg 2014), Bulgaria (Sofia International Composition Competition, 2017), Russia (All-Russian Composer Competition, Kreutzer’s Sonata, 2018), Italy (PIF Castelfidardo 2019 – Classical Category Composition), and Russia (12th International Composers’ Competition for the 12th International Wind/Percussion Competition).

Those interested in performing Prof. Kosorić’s contest entry, the exciting and challenging Toccata-burletta, or any of his other accordion works may contact him at draazh@hotmail.com to obtain a score.

2025 Third Place: Petrichor, by Ian Hazel

Ian Hazel is a multi-instrumentalist, but his true love is the accordion. He took about one year of lessons during his senior year in high school before branching off on his own, spending five years between high school and college lending his accordion talents to local folk and punk rock bands in Salt Lake City, Utah.

His time spent with fellow folk and rock musicians mixed with his love for symphonic orchestra results in a unique playing style, blending contemporary and orchestral influence with more traditional waltz and polka accordion melodies. With college and career came less time for music, but since early 2023 Ian has rediscovered his passion for the accordion and music composition. He is currently recording an album comprising accordion works, some solo and some with string and horn accompaniment. The 2025 Elise M. Bennett Composition Competition marks his first competitive submission of his original accordion works.

The composer comments on his work as follows:

Petrichor mimics emotions that I often feel during the short-lived and intense rainstorms that grace the arid deserts of Utah during the late summer and early fall. With how full our lives can be of positive fleeting moments, it’s easy to start to take them for granted; the composition serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and enjoying these moments. Musically, I primarily drew inspiration for this piece from Death and Transfiguration by Richard Strauss, and The Tempest by Tchaikovsky.

Contact Ian Hazel at ianmhazel@gmail.com