| American Pianists Association | |
| Former Name: | The Beethoven Foundation |
| Formation: | by Victor Borge, Tony Habig, and Julius Bloom |
| Purpose: | Discover, promote and advance the careers of young, American, world-class jazz and classical pianists |
| Headquarters: | 4603 Clarendon Road, Suite 030, Indianapolis, IN 46208 |
| Location: | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States |
| Region Served: | United States |
| Leader Title: | President & CEO |
| Leader Name: | Chris Williams |
| Leader Title2: | Current Classical Winner |
| Leader Name2: | Kenny Broberg |
| Leader Title3: | Current Jazz Winner |
| Leader Name3: | Isaiah J. Thompson |
| Main Organ: | Board of Directors |
The American Pianists Association is a non-profit performing arts organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The organization's goal is to "discover, promote, and advance" the careers of young American pianists. The organization hosts a biennial competition called the American Pianists Awards, which switches focus from classical piano to jazz piano every two years.[1] Valued at over $200,000, the awards of the competition are among the most lucrative piano prizes in the world. The Cole Porter Fellowship, awarded to the winner of the jazz competitions, is one of the greatest honors young American jazz musicians can receive.[2] In non-competition years, the organization hosts a recital series called Grand Encounters,[3] and from 2003 through 2008, the association produced Indy Jazz Fest.[4]
The association was "born" in New York City in 1979 as the Beethoven Foundation, conceived by the Victor Borge, a Danish pianist; Tony Habig, of the piano manufacturer Kimball International; and Julius Bloom, former general manager of Carnegie Hall. Their original intent was to help identify and groom young American pianists to compete in international piano competitions by offering fellowships over a three-year period that included cash awards, concerts and media coverage.[5] It changed its name to The American Pianists Association in 1989 and added a jazz competition in 1992.
In 1982, The Beethoven Foundation moved its national headquarters to Indianapolis, partly because of geographical ties by two of its founders, Habig and Borge. Now the executive offices are a part of the Arts Collaborative housed in Lilly Hall at Butler University. In 1989, the name was changed to the American Pianists Association to reflect a broader scope that included jazz pianists, and the mission also has broadened beyond the original purpose.[5]
Finalists for the American Pianists Awards compete through a series of adjudicated public recitals. The classical competition includes solo piano, chamber music, collaborative vocal, and concerto performances and ends with each finalist performing a piano concerto with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The jazz competition includes repertoire for solo piano, jazz trio, vocal jazz, and jazz orchestra.[6]
The American Pianists Association website lists these winners:[7]
| Year | Winner | Winner | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Jazz | Isaiah J. Thompson | |||
| 2021 Classical | Kenneth Broberg[8] | |||
| 2019 Jazz | Emmet Cohen | |||
| 2017 Classical | Drew Petersen | |||
| 2015 Jazz | ||||
| 2013 Classical | ||||
| 2011 Jazz | ||||
| 2009 Classical | Adam Golka | |||
| 2007 Jazz | ||||
| 2006 Classical | Spencer Myer | |||
| 2004 Jazz | ||||
| 2003 Classical | Michael Sheppard | |||
| 2001 Jazz | ||||
| 2000 Classical | ||||
| 1998 Jazz | ||||
| 1997 Classical | Derison Duarte | Hiroko Kunitake | Peter Miyamoto | |
| 1996 Jazz | ||||
| 1995 Classical | James Giles | Anthony Molinaro | J.Y. Song | |
| 1994 Jazz | Kevin Bales | |||
| 1993 Classical | Adam Kent | Lori Sims | ||
| 1992 Jazz | Jim Pryor | |||
| 1991 Classical | Timothy Bozarth | Anthony Padilla | Daniel Shapiro | |
| 1989 Classical | Jonathan Bass | Brian Ganz | Stephen Prutsman | |
| 1987 Classical | Diane Hidy | Philip Hosford | Nelson Padgett | |
| 1985 Classical | R. Clipper Erickson | Dmitry Rachmanov | ||
| 1983 Classical | John Salmon | Michael Lewin | ||
| 1981 Classical | Glenn Sales | Jonathan Shames |