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Arranging for Jazz Orchestra

Arranging for Jazz Orchestra

Brent Wallarab, co-founder of the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, has been making custom big band arrangements for the American Pianists Awards since 2003. Go behind the scenes to learn about the process!

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Five things to listen for in Béla Bartók’s Suite, Op. 14

Five things to listen for in Béla Bartók’s Suite, Op. 14

Béla Bartók (1881-1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist, and is considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. In the first of an occasional series, we offer five things to listen for in his Suite, Op. 14.

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A Day in the Life of Isaiah J. Thompson

A Day in the Life of Isaiah J. Thompson

In the fifth episode of a series, we visit 2023 American Pianists Awards finalist Isaiah J. Thompson on his 25th birthday weekend.

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A Day in the Life of Caelan Cardello

A Day in the Life of Caelan Cardello

We visit Caelan Cardello on one of his final days on campus at William Paterson University in New Jersey for the fourth installment of our series.

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Spencer Myer on Chopin's Four Impromptus

Spencer Myer on Chopin's Four Impromptus

2006 American Pianists Awards winner Spencer Myer recently recorded Frédéric Chopin's four Impromptus for Steinway Classics. Listen to him discuss why he thinks the other three Impromptus are underappreciated compared to the famous Fantaisie Impromptu and how "Chopin's music is deeply emotionally connected and communicates the human spirit."

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2022 Highlights from Past Winners

2022 Highlights from Past Winners

2022 saw a revival of the arts and a new era of artistic growth for past winners of the American Pianists Awards. Here is a look at what some of them were up to:

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A Day in the Life of Thomas Linger

A Day in the Life of Thomas Linger

In the third episode of the series, we spend A Day in the Life of 2023 American Pianists Awards finalist Thomas Linger at home in Queens during a busy week of performing and teaching.

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Eric Zuber's The Young Chopin

Eric Zuber's The Young Chopin

American Pianists Awards laureate Eric Zuber's new album, "The Young Chopin" explores some of the composer's early works “when he was flexing his pianistic muscles." Award-winning writer, pianist, composer and lecturer Stuart Isacoff explores the repertoire.

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A Whirlwind Tour for Kenny Broberg

A Whirlwind Tour for Kenny Broberg

On break from his teaching position at Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid, 2021 American Pianists Awards winner Kenny Broberg returned to the States for a whirlwind week of music-making.

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A Day in the Life of Paul Cornish

A Day in the Life of Paul Cornish

In the second episode of our series, we spend A Day in the Life of 2023 American Pianists Awards finalist Paul Cornish.

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A Day in the Life of Esteban Castro

A Day in the Life of Esteban Castro

Take a peek into the life of 2023 American Pianists Awards finalist Esteban Castro though our new short documentary series, A Day in the Life.

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Living the Classical Life at the 2021 Awards

Living the Classical Life at the 2021 Awards

In a special edition of Living the Classical Life, the show travels to Indianapolis to observe the five finalists at the American Pianists Awards in summer of 2021.

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Take Five: the 2023 Awards edition

Take Five: the 2023 Awards edition

Caelan Cardello, Esteban Castro, Paul Cornish, Thomas Linger and Isaiah J. Thompson take five for some Q&A at the piano.

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Kenny Broberg's Czech Spring

Kenny Broberg's Czech Spring

What do Dvořák, a 200th anniversary and the world's worst car have in common? Kenny Broberg touring the Czech Republic!

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2023 Awards previews in NYC

2023 Awards previews in NYC

The world was treated to a preview of the 2023 American Pianists Awards last month with two special gatherings in New York City.

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Announcing new members of our board

Announcing new members of our board

American Pianists Association is thrilled to welcome new board members Hillary Egan, Christia Hicks and Deborah Hearn Smith, each of whom brings a wealth of knowledge and singular experience.

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Drew Petersen in

Drew Petersen in "Music Moves"

American Pianists Awards winner Drew Petersen joins Dance Kaleidoscope and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra for Music Moves, a collaborative celebration showcasing Ravel, Bernstein, Brahms, Handel and Kilar.

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Welcome Leigh Ann Hirschman!

Welcome Leigh Ann Hirschman!

This month we welcome a new staff member at the American Pianists Association. Meet Leigh Ann Hirschman, our new Director of Advancement!

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Chatting with Michelle Cann

Chatting with Michelle Cann

Ahead of her performance for the American Pianists Association on May 15, 2022, Michelle Cann spoke with Lee Clifford about her musical education, Florence Price and her concert program:

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Talking Margaret Bonds, Michelle Cann and more with Joshua Thompson

Talking Margaret Bonds, Michelle Cann and more with Joshua Thompson

We caught up with pianist and music sociologist Joshua Thompson to talk about Margaret Bonds, Michelle Cann's upcoming concert and more.

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Cécile McLorin Salvant's

Cécile McLorin Salvant's "Ghost Song"

Amid the excitement over the announcement of the 2023 American Pianists Awards finalists, some astute observers noticed another bit of big news: three-time Grammy® Award-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant will perform at the American Pianists Awards Gala Finals on April 22, 2023!

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Kenny Broberg Appointed at Reina Sofía School of Music

Kenny Broberg Appointed at Reina Sofía School of Music

Reina Sofía School of Music Announces Appointment of Kenny Broberg as Deputy Professor to Piano Chair Stanislav Ioudenitch starting in the 2022-2023 academic year

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Announcing the 2023 Awards finalists!

Announcing the 2023 Awards finalists!

INDIANAPOLIS [For Immediate Release - Thursday, March 10, 2022] – American Pianists Association (APA) announces the five finalists of the 2023 American Pianists Awards. 

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Chatting with Sara Davis Buechner

Chatting with Sara Davis Buechner

American Pianists Association's Lee Clifford chatted with Sara Davis Buechner about winning the first American Pianists Awards, the serendipity of sight-reading and the diverse set of composers she will feature in her upcoming concert.

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Remembering Victor Borge

Remembering Victor Borge

“I only know two pieces; one is 'Clair de Lune' and the other one isn't.” – Victor Borge

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Franz Schubert's Impromptus

Franz Schubert's Impromptus

In his short life, Austrian composer Franz Schubert (born January 31, 1797) wrote over 1000 pieces of music. Let’s take a minute to focus on his piano impromptus.

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2021: The Year in Review

2021: The Year in Review

Looking back on 2021 elicits many emotions.

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Dave Meder's Unamuno Songs and Stories

Dave Meder's Unamuno Songs and Stories

Catching up with 2019 American Pianists Awards finalist Dave Meder as he releases his new album, "Unamuno Songs and Stories."

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Exploring two-piano duo

Exploring two-piano duo

Nothing summons bright moments like two pianos on a single stage. Nuance reigns. And subtle changes have resonating impact.

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Concerto Curriculum Returns!

Concerto Curriculum Returns!

American Pianists Association announces the return of its educational outreach program, Concerto Curriculum, featuring residencies at five area high schools.

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Our diverse world shapes our music, the artistic language of our contestants. It delights, informs, and inspires us all. It is in this spirit that the American Pianists Association welcomes people of any race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender identity, as well as people with disabilities. We commit to learn from diverse talents, ideas, and voices. We pledge to create an environment for our artists, audiences, community partners, board, and staff that is based on the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Further, we commit to enacting strategic and annual plans that provide focused, measurable strategies for living out these values every day.