Press Releases
APA Announces Dan Tepfer as the 2007 Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz
American Pianists Association Announces
2007 Cole Porter Jazz Fellow
New York pianist wins coveted Fellowship
INDIANAPOLIS (April 30, 2007) — Dan Tepfer, 25, has won the national competition for the two-year fellowship in jazz of the American Pianists Association, a prize valued at approximately $75,000, which includes a cash award, publicity, career assistance through the American Pianists Association (APA) and the Joel Chriss and Company jazz management agency in New York City, and recital and concert engagements worldwide.
Born in Paris, France in 1982, Dan Tepfer has been studying the piano since the age of six. In 2003, Tepfer was offered a scholarship to study at the New England Conservatory in Boston, where he completed a master’s degree in jazz piano performance under the guidance of Danilo Pérez. In December 2003, he formed his current trio, which features Peruvian double-bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Richie Barshay, whom Tepfer shares with fellow pianist Herbie Hancock. The group has since toured through France, Japan, Peru, and both coasts of the USA, and has received strong acclaim from radio and press media for its debut CD, Before the Storm. In addition to the APA award, Tepfer was the First Prize winner and audience prize winner at the Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition.
“We truly had five winners with these superb finalists and we are so proud to sponsor this event. It is an inspiration to all of us” said Joel Harrison, artistic director for the APA. “Mr. Tepfer is a major talent and we look forward to working with him during his two-year fellowship”
Other Finalists included Victor Gould, Jacob Koller, Jeremy Siskind and Glenn Zaleski. All Finalists received cash prizes of $2,500 each plus community engagements throughout Indianapolis during the week.
Five internationally renowned jazz artists judged the two-night event, which involved two sets at the Jazz Kitchen, including both solo and trio performances, as well as specially commissioned renditions of jazz standards for piano and jazz orchestra at the Gala Finals at the historic Madame Walker Theatre.
The panel of judges included Lynne Arriale, internationally recognized with her band and their ninth cd release, Fred Hersch, two-time Grammy nominee and 2003 Guggenheim Memorial Fellow, Joel Chriss, president and founder of Chris & Co., a New York based booking company for jazz artists and jazz events worldwide, Renee Rosnes, winner of three Junos awards and founding member of the San Francisco Jazz Collective, and Denny Zeitlin, critically acclaimed MaxJazz recording artist and two-time winner in the Down Beat International Jazz Critics Pool.
Recent Fellows have been successful in their careers. Aaron Parks, the 2001 Fellow, tours internationally with Terrence Blanchard and currently has four CD’s out. Adam Birnbaum, the 2004 Jazz Fellow, has since played at the Kennedy Center, toured Japan and the Czech Republic and most recently Africa through the Rhythm Road Touring Program. He has released two CDs.
By establishing the Cole Porter Fellowship honoring the Indiana native and popular songwriter, the APA recognizes a generous gift to its endowment from the James O. and Alice F. Cole Foundation and from Mrs. Margaret Cole Russell.
Sponsors for the Jazz Fellowship Awards, held every three years, included Citizen’s Gas, Kroger, Omni Severin Hotel, Air Tran, Cummins Inc., Lauth Family Foundation, Locke Reynolds, REI, Veolia, Lily Endowment, Lilly Corporation, Indiana Arts Commission, Arts Council of Indianapolis and Rotary Foundation.