Jump to content

American Piano Awards

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American Piano Awards
Formation1979; 45 years ago (1979)
by Victor Borge, Tony Habig, and Julius Bloom
PurposeDiscover, promote and advance the careers of young, American, world-class jazz and classical pianists
Headquarters4603 Clarendon Road, Suite 030, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Location
Region served
United States
President & CEO
Chris Williams
Current Classical Winner
Kenny Broberg
Current Jazz Winner
Isaiah J. Thompson
Main organ
Board of Directors
Websitepianoawards.org
Formerly called
The Beethoven Foundation (1979-1989), American Pianists Association (1989-2024)

American Piano Awards is a non-profit performing arts organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The organization's goal is to "discover, promote, and advance" the careers of young American pianists. The organization hosts a biennial competition called the American Piano Awards, which switches focus from classical piano to jazz piano every two years.[1] Valued at over $200,000, the awards of the competition are among the most lucrative piano prizes in the world.[citation needed] The Cole Porter Fellowship, awarded to the winner of the jazz competitions, is one of the greatest honors young American jazz musicians can receive.[2] In non-competition years, the organization hosts a piano recital series,[3] and from 2003 through 2008, the organization produced Indy Jazz Fest.[4]

History

[edit]

The organization was "born" in New York City in 1979 as the Beethoven Foundation, conceived by Danish pianist Victor Borge, Tony Habig of the piano manufacturer Kimball International, and Julius Bloom, former general manager of Carnegie Hall. Their original intent was to help identify and develop young American pianists to compete in international piano competitions by offering fellowships over a three-year period that included cash awards, concerts and media coverage.[5] In 1982, The Beethoven Foundation moved its national headquarters to Indianapolis, Indiana due to its central location and Habig & Borge's geographical ties to the area.

In 1989 the organization was renamed as The American Pianists Association to reflect a broader mission and scope that included jazz pianists.[5] The jazz competition was added in 1992.[citation needed]

The organization was rebranded as American Piano Awards in 2024 to better reflect its most significant programs and aid in the public's understanding of its mission and purpose. The executive offices are a part of the Arts Collaborative housed in Lilly Hall at Butler University.

Competitions

[edit]

Finalists for the American Piano Awards compete through a series of adjudicated public recitals. The classical competition includes solo piano, chamber music, and concerto performances and ends with each finalist performing a piano concerto with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The jazz competition includes repertoire for solo piano, jazz trio, vocal jazz, and jazz orchestra.[6]

Award recipients

[edit]

The American Piano Awards website lists these winners:[7]

Year Winner Winner Winner
2023 Jazz Isaiah J. Thompson
2021 Classical Kenneth Broberg[8]
2019 Jazz Emmet Cohen
2017 Classical Drew Petersen
2015 Jazz Sullivan Fortner
2013 Classical Sean Chen
2011 Jazz Aaron Diehl
2009 Classical Grace Fong Adam Golka
2007 Jazz Dan Tepfer
2006 Classical Stephen Beus Spencer Myer
2004 Jazz Adam Birnbaum
2003 Classical Thomas Rosenkranz Michael Sheppard
2001 Jazz Aaron Parks
2000 Classical Christopher Taylor Ning An
1998 Jazz Jesse Green
1997 Classical Derison Duarte Hiroko Kunitake Peter Miyamoto
1996 Jazz Rick Germanson
1995 Classical James Giles Anthony Molinaro J.Y. Song
1994 Jazz Kevin Bales
1993 Classical Adam Kent Nicholas Roth Lori Sims
1992 Jazz Jim Pryor
1991 Classical Timothy Bozarth Anthony Padilla Daniel Shapiro
1989 Classical Jonathan Bass Brian Ganz Stephen Prutsman
1987 Classical Diane Hidy Philip Hosford Nelson Padgett
1985 Classical Frederic Chiu R. Clipper Erickson Dmitry Rachmanov
1983 Classical Phillip Bush John Salmon Michael Lewin
1981 Classical David Buechner Glenn Sales Jonathan Shames

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "These young star pianists will perform in Indianapolis starting this fall". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  2. ^ Chinen, Nate; Smith, Trevor (13 July 2023). "Relive the 2023 American Pianists Awards from Indianapolis". NPR Music.
  3. ^ Harvey, Jay. "Florida native Sean Chen named DeHaan Classical Fellow". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
  4. ^ "History". American Piano Awards. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  5. ^ a b "Fellows of the American Pianists Association". American Music Teacher. 54 (4): 39–42. 2005.
  6. ^ "Awards". American Piano Awards. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  7. ^ "Laureates Page". American Piano Awards. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  8. ^ Kenny Broberg wins 2021 American Pianists Awards in Indianapolis by Domenica Bongiovanni. Indianapolis Star, 27 Jun 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-30.