Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In the presence of esteemed honorary doctorate recipient Vinnie Colaiuta, graduating drummer Yukai Yang performs Sammy Nestico’s “Ya Gotta Try” at the Berklee Commencement Concert in Agganis Arena. This performance pays homage to Colaiuta’s iconic 1989 rendition of the piece with The Buddy Rich Big Band at The Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert, honoring legendary jazz drummer Buddy Rich and the band’s celebrated 1977 recording of the piece. Colaiuta’s landmark drum performance has inspired generations of drummers and remains a touchstone for Vinnie fans and students of the instrument. Presented by members of the Class of 2026, this tribute is part of an interdisciplinary production that brought together 224 students representing 42 countries.
Watch the full performance with complete credits on YouTube at the link in bio.
“Ya Gotta Try” (S. Nestico)
Arranger: Tsunenori (Lee) Abe / @crazyharmonymusic
MUSICIAN CREDITS:
Piano: Jisoo Park / @park__piano
Electric Guitar: Zhiyu Cai / @zhiyu__cai
Upright Bass: Daniel Chan / @danielchandc
Drums: Yukai Yang / @yukaiyang0702
Trumpet / Soloist: Shota Yamaguchi / @tp.shota
Trumpet: Charlie Dominguez / @krum.dominguez_c
Trumpet: Lady Satch / @ladysatchofficial
Trumpet: Philipp Schwarz / @philipp_24sz
Alto Sax: Matthew Leon / @Matt.leonmusic
Alto Sax: Kevin Huang / @kevinhuangmusic
Tenor Sax / Soloist: Tee Chindasook / @teechindasook
Tenor Sax: Camilo Barrios Pacheco / @barney.mov_
Tenor Sax: Diego Herrera / @diegosaxo02
Baritone Sax: Ella Lindström / @ellawilhelminaaa
Trombone: Samuel Padua Gomez / @sampadua_04
Trombone: Vincent LaRosa / @vince.larosa_
Trombone: Albert Climent Ortiz / @albert_climentt
Trombone: Armando Soler / @armando_soler_
Bass Trombone: James Benson / @venatus.james
CREATIVE TEAM:
Producer, Artistic and Musical Director: Maureen McMullan
Director: Tom Baskett / @tombaskett
Arranging Supervisor and Musical Director: Tsunenori (Lee) Abe / @crazyharmonymusic
Arranging Consultant: Alex Clements / @clements2676
Track Production Supervisor: Rishabh Rajan / @rishabhrajan
Background Vocal Coordinator: Lydia Harrell / @lovelysinger
Background Vocal Coordinator: Nichelle J. Mungo / @njmungo
Background Vocal Coordinator: Adrian Sicam / @adriansicam
VJ Design: Peter Zebbler Berdovsky / @zebbler
Production Assistant, Rachael (Rae) Morrison / @raemorrisonnn
Assistant to the Arranging Supervisor: Kimi Valdez / @kimivaldez
Digital Media/Production Assistant: Daria Krasnozhon / @dariakrasnozhon
Live Sound and Recording Engineer: Kai Rush / @kairushsongs
Live Sound and Recording Engineer: Saint Christophe Matara / @matarawsky
Background Vocal Captain: Ávin / @avinrzvn
Ableton Live Playback Engineers: Joseph Olmedo / @cosanostrapr
Ableton Live Playback Engineers: Kai Rush / @kairushsongs
Dance Captain: Journee Brownridge / @_journeeb
VIDEO PRODUCTION:
Video Director: Simon Yu / @simonyuproductions
Gimbal Operator: Andreas Hofweber / @andreashofweber
Steadicam Operator: Kevin Greene, BM ‘14 / @kgreeneproductions
Jib Operator: Felix Baez, MA ‘22 Berklee NYC /
Camera Operators: Sage Shriver-Blough, BM ‘23 / @sageblough
Jennifer Cuciti
Artem Vrabec
Angelica Ramos
POST-PRODUCTION:
Producer: Maureen McMullan
Associate Producer: Tsunenori (Lee) Abe / @crazyharmonymusic
Video: Simon Yu / @simonyuproductions
Audio Mix: Alex Rodriguez / @alexrodr2025
Mastering: Jonathan Wyner / @jonathan_wyner
FULL CREDITS:
https://publications.berklee.edu/commencement-concert-program/
In the presence of esteemed honorary doctorate recipient Vinnie Colaiuta, graduating drummer Yukai Yang performs Sammy Nestico’s “Ya Gotta Try” at the Berklee Commencement Concert in Agganis Arena. This performance pays homage to Colaiuta’s iconic 1989 rendition of the piece with The Buddy Rich Big Band at The Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert, honoring legendary jazz drummer Buddy Rich and the band’s celebrated 1977 recording of the piece. Colaiuta’s landmark drum performance has inspired generations of drummers and remains a touchstone for Vinnie fans and students of the instrument. Presented by members of the Class of 2026, this tribute is part of an interdisciplinary production that brought together 224 students representing 42 countries.
Watch the full performance with complete credits on YouTube at the link in bio.
“Ya Gotta Try” (S. Nestico)
Arranger: Tsunenori (Lee) Abe / @crazyharmonymusic
MUSICIAN CREDITS:
Piano: Jisoo Park / @park__piano
Electric Guitar: Zhiyu Cai / @zhiyu__cai
Upright Bass: Daniel Chan / @danielchandc
Drums: Yukai Yang / @yukaiyang0702
Trumpet / Soloist: Shota Yamaguchi / @tp.shota
Trumpet: Charlie Dominguez / @krum.dominguez_c
Trumpet: Lady Satch / @ladysatchofficial
Trumpet: Philipp Schwarz / @philipp_24sz
Alto Sax: Matthew Leon / @Matt.leonmusic
Alto Sax: Kevin Huang / @kevinhuangmusic
Tenor Sax / Soloist: Tee Chindasook / @teechindasook
Tenor Sax: Camilo Barrios Pacheco / @barney.mov_
Tenor Sax: Diego Herrera / @diegosaxo02
Baritone Sax: Ella Lindström / @ellawilhelminaaa
Trombone: Samuel Padua Gomez / @sampadua_04
Trombone: Vincent LaRosa / @vince.larosa_
Trombone: Albert Climent Ortiz / @albert_climentt
Trombone: Armando Soler / @armando_soler_
Bass Trombone: James Benson / @venatus.james
CREATIVE TEAM:
Producer, Artistic and Musical Director: Maureen McMullan
Director: Tom Baskett / @tombaskett
Arranging Supervisor and Musical Director: Tsunenori (Lee) Abe / @crazyharmonymusic
Arranging Consultant: Alex Clements / @clements2676
Track Production Supervisor: Rishabh Rajan / @rishabhrajan
Background Vocal Coordinator: Lydia Harrell / @lovelysinger
Background Vocal Coordinator: Nichelle J. Mungo / @njmungo
Background Vocal Coordinator: Adrian Sicam / @adriansicam
VJ Design: Peter Zebbler Berdovsky / @zebbler
Production Assistant, Rachael (Rae) Morrison / @raemorrisonnn
Assistant to the Arranging Supervisor: Kimi Valdez / @kimivaldez
Digital Media/Production Assistant: Daria Krasnozhon / @dariakrasnozhon
Live Sound and Recording Engineer: Kai Rush / @kairushsongs
Live Sound and Recording Engineer: Saint Christophe Matara / @matarawsky
Background Vocal Captain: Ávin / @avinrzvn
Ableton Live Playback Engineers: Joseph Olmedo / @cosanostrapr
Ableton Live Playback Engineers: Kai Rush / @kairushsongs
Dance Captain: Journee Brownridge / @_journeeb
VIDEO PRODUCTION:
Video Director: Simon Yu / @simonyuproductions
Gimbal Operator: Andreas Hofweber / @andreashofweber
Steadicam Operator: Kevin Greene, BM ‘14 / @kgreeneproductions
Jib Operator: Felix Baez, MA ‘22 Berklee NYC /
Camera Operators: Sage Shriver-Blough, BM ‘23 / @sageblough
Jennifer Cuciti
Artem Vrabec
Angelica Ramos
POST-PRODUCTION:
Producer: Maureen McMullan
Associate Producer: Tsunenori (Lee) Abe / @crazyharmonymusic
Video: Simon Yu / @simonyuproductions
Audio Mix: Alex Rodriguez / @alexrodr2025
Mastering: Jonathan Wyner / @jonathan_wyner
FULL CREDITS:
https://publications.berklee.edu/commencement-concert-program/
