American Pianists Association

The American Pianists Association is a performing arts organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, that holds two national, quadrennial piano competitions in alternating 2-year cycles: the Classical Fellowship Awards and the Jazz Fellowship Awards. Only American citizens ages 18–30 are eligible to compete. The organization hosts a recital series in non-competition years. The Fellowship Awards are among the most lucrative piano prizes in the world, valued at over $100,000.^[1]

History

The association was born in New York City in 1979 as the Beethoven Foundation, conceived by the late Victor Borge, Tony Habig of Kimball International and Julius Bloom, former general manager of Carnegie Hall. Their original intent was to help identify and groom 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.^[2] It changed its name to The American Pianists Association in 1989 and added a jazz competition in 1992.

In 1982, the Beethoven Foundation moved its national headquarters to Indianapolis, partly because of geographical ties by two of its founders, Habig and Borge. Now the executive offices are a part of the Arts Collaborative housed in Lilly Hall at Butler University. In 1989, the name was changed to American Pianists Association to reflect a broader scope that included jazz pianists, and the mission also has broadened beyond the original purpose.^[2]

From 2003 through 2008, the American Pianists Association produced Indy Jazz Fest.^[3]

APA has collaborated with the Cultural Programs Division of the U.S. Department of State, which has sponsored Classical and Jazz Fellows, as well as Harrison, in international tours since 2003. All total, they have together or separately visited 10 countries worldwide.^[4]

According to the APA’s website, “In addition to professional assistance, we offer opportunities for pedagogical growth through our educational and community outreach initiative called Concerto Curriculum. In this program, our Fellows perform in diverse community settings ranging from public and private schools to multi-service centers and retirement villages. Informal and often interactive in nature, these concerts give our Fellows the chance to improve their communication skills in several ways and at the same time bring a high level of music-making to non-traditional venues. These sessions are offered at no cost to the sponsoring venue, and we will provide an excellent piano if one is not available.”^[5]

The following is a partial transcription of an interview with APA President Joel Harrison conducted on December 4th, 2014:

Q: What kinds of success stories have winners of these competitions gone on to have post-fellowship?

A: "Well, they're all professionally employed as artists. The most recent classical fellow, Sean Chen, is arguably the top young pianist of his generation and is heavily sought after now for concerts, playing fifty to sixty concerts a season. He also, after he won here, ended up getting third prize at the Van Cliburn International Competition. They provide quite a bit in terms of career assistance, so between the two organizations he's playing all over the world now . . . the Fellow before that, the Jazz Fellow Aaron Diehl, is again one of the most sought after pianists of his generation of Jazz pianists. He plays all the time, he is recording with Mack Avenue . . . got all kinds of awards, he gets glowing reviews, and been on the Today Show."

Q: In addition to being a stepping stone into further competitions and connections, what kinds of awards are given to the winners of the competitions?

A: "The Fellow, whoever gets named, becomes a Fellow for two years, receives career assistance during that time, mentoring. The Fellowship is valued at over $100,000, that includes $50,000 in cash, that includes fees from concert engagements around the world during those two years, that includes the income value of being represented by us . . . includes the income value of public relations because we have a Classical public relations agency on retainer, as well as a Jazz public relations, and they help us promote those winners as well as the finalists, not just the winner but the finalists. Finalists receive a $10,000 award. The winner is offered a recording contract. The Classical winner in 2000 has a recording contract with Steinway Records."

Competitions

APA competitions focus on artistic expression—not on competitive prowess. Further, it makes an effort to tailor career assistance to suit the particular needs of the Fellow, offering an array of opportunities appropriate to the Fellow’s current career development and status. APA strives to be the bridge between professional training and a full-fledged professional career. An example of this career assistance is the collaborative agreement with Harmonia Mundi to produce a series of solo recordings of the 2006 Classical Fellows and an agreement with Joel Chriss & Co. of New York City to provide concert and club engagements for the 2007 Jazz Fellow for two years.^[4]

Candidates cannot apply to be part of the Classical or Jazz Fellowship Awards—they must be nominated.

At the beginning of each competition process, a call for nominations is sent to a comprehensive list of musicians, teachers and industry professionals. A panel then reviews anonymous recordings sent in by the nominees, and five Finalists are selected.

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

Past and Present Fellows

Source:^[6]

References