Blog

Announcing the 2025 Awards Finalists

Announcing the 2025 Awards Finalists

We are thrilled to announce the five finalists of the 2025 American Pianists Awards!

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Five Things to Listen for in

Five Things to Listen for in "Our Delight" by Tadd Dameron

Pianist and composer Tadd Dameron once said “There is enough ugliness in the world, I’m interested in beauty.” With that sentiment in mind, here are Five Things to listen for in Dameron's treasured tune, "Our Delight."

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A Musical Introduction to Cyrus Chestnut

A Musical Introduction to Cyrus Chestnut

A Musical Introduction to Cyrus Chestnut

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Catching up with Kenny Broberg

Catching up with Kenny Broberg

In anticipation of an upcoming performance, Kenny Broberg shared insights during a conversation with Lee Clifford from the American Pianists Association. Following is an edited transcript of their chat which includes a sneak peek at a new project, his approach to the upcoming program and his connection with the pieces he has chosen to perform.

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American Pianists Awards Winners' Showcase 2023

American Pianists Awards Winners' Showcase 2023

As the year draws to a close, it's time to celebrate the achievements of American Pianists Awards winners in 2023! We have witnessed a remarkable year of creative projects from recent winners, each showcasing their unique styles in highly lauded album releases. Let's dive into their latest.

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Scenes From Isaiah's Quartet

Scenes From Isaiah's Quartet

Scenes from the Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet at The Jazz Kitchen

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Christel DeHaan's Encore: an Endowment for the Future

Christel DeHaan's Encore: an Endowment for the Future

The American Pianists Association has received a donation of $2,748,000, a final gift from the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation that underscores Christel DeHaan's everlasting influence on our organization.

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Isaiah J. Thompson's

Isaiah J. Thompson's "Guaraldi Holiday"

As the autumn nights get colder and winter approaches, 2023 American Pianists Awards winner Isaiah J. Thompson has created a warm and inviting musical space for all in his latest release, "A Guaraldi Holiday."

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Five Things to Listen for in

Five Things to Listen for in "The Alcotts" by Charles Ives

Drew Petersen offers Five Things to Listen for in "The Alcotts" by Charles Ives.

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150 Years of Rachmaninoff with Olga Kern

150 Years of Rachmaninoff with Olga Kern

American Pianists Association Grand Encounters 23/24 season begins with a journey through romantic works by performed by the illustrious pianist Olga Kern. Designed as a celebration of the 150th year since Rachmaninoff’s birth, highlights of the concert include Schumann’s Carnaval and Rachmaninoff’s Variations on a Theme of Corelli. Olga joined us after a recent performance in Chicago to discuss her connection to Rachmaninoff and her thoughts on performing those highlight pieces.

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Coffee with Chris: Meet Our New CEO

Coffee with Chris: Meet Our New CEO

Lee Clifford, Director of Marketing for the American Pianists Association, recently joined our new CEO, Chris Williams, downtown Indianapolis. Over a cup of coffee, they delved into Chris' journey to the organization, his views on nurturing young talent and what he envisions for the future of jazz and classical music.

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Birnbaum and Bach: Preludes

Birnbaum and Bach: Preludes

2004 American Pianists Awards winner Adam Birnbaum has created fresh, improvisatory arrangements of Bach for his latest album, "Preludes."

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Aaron Diehl's Zodiac Suite by Mary Lou Williams

Aaron Diehl's Zodiac Suite by Mary Lou Williams

2011 American Pianists Awards winner Aaron Diehl's latest release features composer Mary Lou Williams' "Zodiac Suite" performed with NYC-based orchestra, The Knights.

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Grand Encounters 23/24 Preview

Grand Encounters 23/24 Preview

Young stars, Grammy winners and trailblazers: Olga Kern, Isaiah J. Thompson, Kenny Broberg, Cyrus Chestnut, Bill Charlap and Sara Davis Buechner perform in our ninth edition of Grand Encounters!

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Five things to listen for in Goyescas by Enrique Granados

Five things to listen for in Goyescas by Enrique Granados

“Goyescas” by Enrique Granados is a collection of piano pieces inspired by the paintings of Francisco Goya. The suite portrays the lives and passions of the majos, dashing folk of 18th-century Madrid who distinguished themselves by their exaggerated outfits and elaborate style in dress and manners. American Pianists Awards finalist Michael Davidman offers his thoughts on the piece to accompany his performance in this special edition of Five Things.

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"Songbird" by Maria Ioudenitch

Violinist Maria Ioudenitch's debut album, “Songbird,” is a journey through song, with a thoughtfully curated collection of arrangements, untouched renditions and songful instrumental works. Maria’s friend and musical collaborator, 2021 American Pianists Awards winner Kenny Broberg, proved the perfect partner for this acclaimed project.

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Announcing our new CEO!

Announcing our new CEO!

We are thrilled to announce that Chris Williams will step into the role of President and CEO of the American Pianists Association starting July 10, taking over for interim CEO Joanne Bennett.

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Five things to listen for in György Ligeti’s

Five things to listen for in György Ligeti’s "Musica Ricercata"

Each piece in György Ligeti’s "Musica Ricercata" is built around a specific set of pitch classes, gradually increasing in complexity. Here are Five Things to listen for in a selection of pieces performed by American Pianists Awards finalist Henry Kramer.

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Recapping the 2023 Awards

Recapping the 2023 Awards

We are filled with joy looking back on the 2023 American Pianists Awards! Caelan, Esteban, Paul, Thomas and Isaiah played brilliantly throughout the entire competition, and we are thrilled to see what comes next for each. We invite you to watch highlights from all of the performances and community engagement of the season and read coverage of Isaiah's thrilling win.

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Isaiah J. Thompson Wins 2023 American Pianists Awards

Isaiah J. Thompson Wins 2023 American Pianists Awards

Isaiah J. Thompson Wins the 2023 American Pianists Awards

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Chatting with Rio Sakairi

Chatting with Rio Sakairi

“Rio Sakairi has singlehandedly influenced New York's current jazz scene more than anyone I know," proclaims jazz pianist and 2013 MacArthur “genius" grant winner Vijay Iyer. We chatted with Rio ahead of her service on the 2023 American Pianists Awards finals jury.

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Jazz House at the American Pianists Awards

Jazz House at the American Pianists Awards

Jazz House at the American Pianists Awards

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Arranging for Jazz Orchestra

Arranging for Jazz Orchestra

Brent Wallarab, co-founder of the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, has been making custom big band arrangements for the American Pianists Awards since 2003. Go behind the scenes to learn about the process!

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Five things to listen for in Béla Bartók’s Suite, Op. 14

Five things to listen for in Béla Bartók’s Suite, Op. 14

Béla Bartók (1881-1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist, and is considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. In the first of an occasional series, we offer five things to listen for in his Suite, Op. 14.

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A Day in the Life of Isaiah J. Thompson

A Day in the Life of Isaiah J. Thompson

In the fifth episode of a series, we visit 2023 American Pianists Awards finalist Isaiah J. Thompson on his 25th birthday weekend.

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A Day in the Life of Caelan Cardello

A Day in the Life of Caelan Cardello

We visit Caelan Cardello on one of his final days on campus at William Paterson University in New Jersey for the fourth installment of our series.

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Spencer Myer on Chopin's Four Impromptus

Spencer Myer on Chopin's Four Impromptus

2006 American Pianists Awards winner Spencer Myer recently recorded Frédéric Chopin's four Impromptus for Steinway Classics. Listen to him discuss why he thinks the other three Impromptus are underappreciated compared to the famous Fantaisie Impromptu and how "Chopin's music is deeply emotionally connected and communicates the human spirit."

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2022 Highlights from Past Winners

2022 Highlights from Past Winners

2022 saw a revival of the arts and a new era of artistic growth for past winners of the American Pianists Awards. Here is a look at what some of them were up to:

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A Day in the Life of Thomas Linger

A Day in the Life of Thomas Linger

In the third episode of the series, we spend A Day in the Life of 2023 American Pianists Awards finalist Thomas Linger at home in Queens during a busy week of performing and teaching.

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Eric Zuber's The Young Chopin

Eric Zuber's The Young Chopin

American Pianists Awards laureate Eric Zuber's new album, "The Young Chopin" explores some of the composer's early works “when he was flexing his pianistic muscles." Award-winning writer, pianist, composer and lecturer Stuart Isacoff explores the repertoire.

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Our diverse world shapes our music, the artistic language of our contestants. It delights, informs, and inspires us all. It is in this spirit that the American Pianists Association welcomes people of any race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender identity, as well as people with disabilities. We commit to learn from diverse talents, ideas, and voices. We pledge to create an environment for our artists, audiences, community partners, board, and staff that is based on the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Further, we commit to enacting strategic and annual plans that provide focused, measurable strategies for living out these values every day.