Current APA Fellows

The Max I. Allen Classical Fellow
Stephen Beus

Stephen Beus is the 2006 Max I. Allen Classical Fellow of the American Pianists Association, winning one of two $75,000 fellowships in April 2006 at the Finals in Indianapolis. In June 2006, he subsequently won the Gold Medal at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in Salt Lake City, and in July 2006 at the Vendome International Piano Competition in Lisbon, Portugal.

In previous performances as a competitor, Stephen was the first prize winner of the Junior Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition and won the pre-college level of the Corpus Christi International Concerto Competition. In 2000, Stephen was named the national winner of the high school division of the MTNA competition. He has also placed second at the 2004 National Kosciuszko Chopin Competition in New York City. In March 2003, Stephen was named the National Winner in the collegiate division of the Music Teachers National Association Competition. As the first place national winner, Stephen recieved a Steinway Piano, Model M.

Stephen is the fourth of eight children and was born and raised in Othello, Washington. Since the age of eight, Stephen has been a popular recitalist and an orchestral soloist, performing concerti by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Grieg, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Prokofiev with orchestras in the United States and Europe.

After his return from his mission trip sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in August 2002, Stephen graduated from Whitman College as a student of Leonard Richter. He was invited to perform with the Whitman Symphony, The Walla Walla Symphony and also with the Mid-Columbia Symphony. After his June 2003 performance of Rachmaninov's 3rd Piano Concerto with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, critics compared his performance to that of the young Van Cliburn.

Stephen is currently pursuing an Artists Diploma from the Juilliard School where his teacher is Robert McDonald.