The American Pianists Awards are held every four years to discover the best aspiring young American classical pianists. Winners receive cash and two years of career advancement and support valued at over $100,000, making this one of the most coveted prizes in the music world.

The Premiere Series provides the first live juried performances of the five American Pianists Awards finalists. Over the course of five months, each finalist makes an initial appearance on stage in Indianapolis.

2017 American Pianists Awards finalist Drew Peterson, 23, will perform a solo program as well as Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 (Emperor) with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.

Drew, a prizewinner in the Leeds International Piano Competition, has performed solo and concerto recitals in both Europe and the United States. He has been a top prizewinner in the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition, and the New York Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. He has participated in master classes with Lang Lang, Emanuel Ax, Claude Frank, Menahem Pressler, Stephen Kovacevich, Ferenc Rados, and André Michel Schub. Drew graduated cum laude from Harvard with bachelor of liberal arts in social science; Diploma in piano performance from Juilliard.

Learn more about Drew in our features:

• DISCOVERING world-class pianists | meet Drew Petersen | #TeamDrew
• Catching up with #AmericanPianistsAwards finalist Drew Petersen