Blog

Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is a parlor game based on the concept of "six degrees of separation” that posits any two people on Earth can be linked via six or fewer acquaintances. We can play a similar game with American Pianists Awards finalist Emmet Cohen. 

From the Hamptons to the Prairie: Joel Harrison and Drew Petersen discuss performing Prokofiev with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at Symphony on the Prairie.

“Everything must go!”

Dave Meder’s recent moving sale reflects his career as a pianist, composer and educator.

Oprah Winfrey called it “America’s most unusual town.” 2019 American Pianists Awards finalist Keelan Dimick calls it his hometown.

Billy Test’s piano repertoire ranges from Bach to the blues. He has taken inspiration from Brazilian musical culture and has jammed on the summer festival scene with rock legends.

From Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC: two sets by the five finalists for the 2019 American Pianists Awards.

2017 American Pianists Awards winner Drew Petersen performs on Christ Church Cathedral's new Steinway D piano for its dedicatory concert.

“Whaaaaaaa?!?!! I’m going to go out tonight!” Kenny Banks Jr., son of a church singer and a jazz pianist, learned he was a finalist for the 2019 American Pianists Awards on March 11, 2018. We talk with Kenny about gospel music, "Get Happy" and more

Petersen, winner of the 2017 American Pianists Awards, was honored as an Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient in a ceremony at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WQXR on March 22, 2018

As we celebrate this year the centennial of the birth of Leonard Bernstein, one of the true icons of the music world and one of the greatest American artists to have ever lived, I am thrilled to have numerous opportunities to share in that celebration of this great figure, and of American music in general.

2019 American Pianists Awards finalist Emmet Cohen gave a thrilling performance of the national anthem prior to the Indiana Pacers basketball game!

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been selected to participate in Brackets For Good, a bracket-style fundraising tournament inspired by the March college basketball tournament!

On Wednesday December 13, 2017 Drew Petersen joins the long roster of American Pianists Awards winners to perform in the series. In this month's Beauty of Music, American Pianists Association Artistic Administrator Milner Fuller provides some insight into Drew's program.

The youngest finalist for the 2001 American Pianists Awards was unsettled. With the first ever Cole Porter Fellowship on the line, the stakes were raised for this fifth edition of what was then known as the American Jazz Piano Competition. Aaron Parks, a pianist from Seattle who was at the time studying at Manhattan School of Music, could not decide on his repertoire for the finals.

A short background on Maurice Ravel's Le tombeau de Couperin

As part of the 2017-2018 Grand Encounters season, American Pianists Association presents a concert by two imaginative individuals.

"There’s something about cages that magnifies freedom...whether you’re inside one or outside, freedom can’t really be talked about without considering the cage, can it?" - 2007 American Pianists Awards winner Dan Tepfer

 In advance of the start of American Pianists Awards winner Drew Petersen's two-year residency at University of Indianapolis, we spoke with University President Robert Manuel.

Before becoming American Pianists Awards participants, our artists have honed their talents upon a variety of stages. NPR's From the Top is a common stepping-stone for many.

It's September--time for some study! With the fall semester now in full swing, let's look back upon the education of the composers of the First Viennese School: Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.

Heir to a familial Russian musical tradition, here comes Nikita Mndoyants, from Cleveland with love!

So what does Liszt mean by Konzertparaphrase? 2013 American Pianists Awards winner Sean Chen explains in this month's Beauty of Music.

2015 American Pianists Awards winner Sullivan Fortner’s star shines brighter with each month of his flourishing career. Here is a picture book with some recent highlights.

Jazz Arrangements: It's not the story but how the story is told. A Beauty of Music guest blog by musician/arranger/scholar Brent Wallarab.

 We chatted with Ann Merkel and Lindsay Harmon about The National Bank of Indianapolis and the American Pianists Awards

2017 American Pianists Awards winner Drew Petersen toured the Czech Republic as part of the American Spring Festival. Follow along!

2011 American Pianists Awards winner Aaron Diehl joins Music Director Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic for the 2016-17 season Opening Gala Concert.

When we last checked in with American Pianists Awards finalist Steven Lin, he was at home in Philadelphia putting in long hours for practice and telling us about some of his inspirations including friends, teachers, 20th-century music and basketball.

When we last checked in with American Pianists Awards finalist Sam Hong, he had just learned of his selection as a finalist and was looking forward to taking part in the competition. Over the summer and into this fall, Sam has been working on his repertoire ahead of his first performance December 4.

On December 8, 2016, the American Pianists Awards  at the 56th annual Musical America Awards as the evening's top sponsor.