<\/p>\n
WINDBER, Pa. \u2013 It took roughly six years for Windber musician Zupe to complete his piano composition \u201cTwo Ships Passing,\u201d but that hard work and dedication paid off when he earned a 2025 InterContinental Music Award for the piece.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m speechless, honestly,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m very happy to be included with the list of winners.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zupe earned a nod from the group as \u201cBest of North America\u201d for contemporary instrumental.<\/p>\n
According to the ICMA, the awards \u201cshowcased outstanding global talent across a spectrum of genres and artists.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe winners of the 2025 InterContinental Music Awards exemplified the pinnacle of global musical excellence,\u201d the ICMA website said.<\/p>\n
Zupe said that the award was a surprise.<\/p>\n
He submitted his piece in June, and was in Oregon performing when the winners were announced in August. It wasn\u2019t until he returned to Pennsylvania days later that he found out he won.<\/p>\n
Longtime friend and collaborator Dave Nichols said he wasn\u2019t surprised by the honor for his talented colleague. He first heard \u201cTwo Ships Passing\u201d a few weeks ago, he said, when his fiancee played the tune on her phone.<\/p>\n
Nichols said he was impressed by the song, but didn\u2019t realize it was by Zupe until he was told.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know he\u2019s my friend, but that piece is stellar,\u201d Nichols said. \u201cIt\u2019s phenomenal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zupe\u2019s musical prowess dates back to his youth.<\/p>\n
At 8, he joined the music program at Shade-Central City School District\u2019s Cairnbrook Elementary School. He first learned to play the trumpet and piano, but soon added other brass and woodwind instruments to his repertoire.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t choose music,\u201d Zupe said. \u201cIt chose me.\u201d<\/p>\n
His career in the music industry spans several decades, and includes a slew of honors, including his time as student director and arranger for the Sheppard Air Force Base Drum & Bugle Corps during his time enlisted with the U.S. Air Force.<\/p>\n
Throughout the years, Zupe has performed at a variety of venues. In 1998, he joined Taxi, a leading independent artist and repertoire company that has allowed his work to appear on a variety of network television programs, such as The History Channel and A&E, according to his website.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also produced several CDs, including the jazz and rock fusion album \u201cSpeechless\u201d with Nichols in 2007.<\/p>\n
Nichols, a guitarist, said the pair have a good relationship and have often performed together in the studio and at live shows.<\/p>\n
Zupe has also recorded an instrumental holiday album titled \u201cChristmas Piano,\u201d an album designed for the ballroom dance enthusiast titled \u201cDance,\u201d and another Christmas album called \u201cYuletides\u201d on which he sings some of the most popular Christmas arrangements.<\/p>\n
His most recent production was the polka music album \u201cNa zdrowie!\u201d \u2013 a callback to the fond memories he has of his father playing the accordion and filling his childhood home with polka music.<\/p>\n
Zupe said he\u2019s dedicated his life to making the world better through music.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn any moment of your life, particularly the more memorable moments of your life, typically music is involved,\u201d Zupe said. \u201cMusic makes you a time traveler because you immediately think of something associated with that music.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that, in his opinion, the world needs more music and more love.<\/p>\n