Blog

American Pianists Awards finalist Michael Davidman dishes about choosing repertoire for competition, the origins of "Puccini MD" and the best place for opera in NYC's K-Town!

While Beethoven and Schubert are considered transitional composers between the Classical and Romantic Eras, Robert Schumann emerged in the first generation of quintessentially Romantic composers.

Sahun Sam Hong is first up for our profiles of the 2021 American Pianists Awards finalists, but he is no stranger to the competition. 

Writer, pianist and lecturer Stuart Isacoff joined Lee Clifford to discuss Bach, jazz and the Goldberg Variations in advance of American Pianists Awards winner Dan Tepfer's performance of the piece with added improvisations.

The Five Finalists for the 2021 American Pianists Awards will be awarded a cash prize of $50,000

“Hats off gentlemen, a genius!”

As a pianist, one must be very creative when thinking of an Italian program. There is almost a total dearth of Romantic piano music, most likely because of the prominence of opera during that period.

However, Italy has always had great music and has always inspired people.

"...to be as eclectic as possible." Anthony de Mare talks with American Pianists Association's Lee Clifford ahead of the pianist's concert in Indianapolis.

47 winners in 40 years. How would you celebrate an anniversary?

American Pianists Association’s Grand Encounters 2019-2020 season does not start until November, but those in Indianapolis have many opportunities to hear great pianists perform before then.

Our 40th anniversary season: 9 artists · 4 concerts · flair to spare

When the clarinet glissando announced the beginning of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on February 12, 1924, little did the audience in Aeolian Hall realize they were witnessing a landmark in American cultural and music history.

Kenny Banks Jr. made us Get Happy at the first Premiere Series of the 2019 American Pianists Awards, and we have been smiling nonstop since September 2018, as Billy Test, Keelan Dimick, Dave Meder and Emmet Cohen came through town!

This month we Take Five with Emmet Cohen and hear his musical impressions of Miami and New York among other topics.

Bonus material for episode nine of “The Journey,” which dives into the dynamic between singers and pianists from the perspective of 2015 American Pianists Awards winner Sullivan Fortner.

This month we Take Five with Dave Meder and hear about his passions for Bach, "Heart and Soul" and CrossFit.

Time to reminisce about the highlights of 2018!

Keelan is coming!

This show is like a glass of champagne--uplifting, fun and bubbly! Two artistic leaders talk about our latest collaboration with Dance Kaleidoscope, featuring 2013 Awards finalist Eric Zuber on piano.

Ahead of his Premiere Series concert, 2019 American Pianists Awards finalist Billy Test joined us to Take Five. Enjoy his music and insights:

2019 American Pianists Awards finalist Kenny Banks Jr. was ready to Take Five with us recently in a back room at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. Check out his verbal and musical responses to our queries.

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