American Piano Awards

American Piano Awards 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 Piano 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.^{[citation needed]} 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 piano recital series,^[3] and from 2003 through 2008, the organization produced Indy Jazz Fest.^[4]

American Piano Awards

Formation	1979; 46 years ago (1979) 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
President & CEO	Chris Williams
Current Classical Winner	Kenny Broberg
Current Jazz Winner	Isaiah J. Thompson
Main organ	Board of Directors
Website	pianoawards.org
Formerly called	The Beethoven Foundation (1979-1989), American Pianists Association (1989-2024)

History

The organization was "born" in New York City in 1979 as the Beethoven Foundation, conceived by Danish pianist Victor Borge, 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 develop 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] In 1982, The Beethoven Foundation moved its national headquarters to Indianapolis, Indiana due to its central location and Habig & Borge's geographical ties to the area.

In 1989 the organization was renamed as The American Pianists Association to reflect a broader mission and scope that included jazz pianists.^[5] The jazz competition was added in 1992.^{[citation needed]}

The organization was rebranded as American Piano Awards in 2024 to better reflect its most significant programs and aid in the public's understanding of its mission and purpose. The executive offices are a part of the Arts Collaborative housed in Lilly Hall at Butler University.

Competitions

Finalists for the American Piano Awards compete through a series of adjudicated public recitals. The classical competition includes solo piano, chamber music, 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]

Award recipients

The American Piano Awards 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	Sullivan Fortner
2013 Classical	Sean Chen
2011 Jazz	Aaron Diehl
2009 Classical	Grace Fong	Adam Golka
2007 Jazz	Dan Tepfer
2006 Classical	Stephen Beus	Spencer Myer
2004 Jazz	Adam Birnbaum
2003 Classical	Thomas Rosenkranz	Michael Sheppard
2001 Jazz	Aaron Parks
2000 Classical	Christopher Taylor	Ning An
1998 Jazz	Jesse Green
1997 Classical	Derison Duarte	Hiroko Kunitake	Peter Miyamoto
1996 Jazz	Rick Germanson
1995 Classical	James Giles	Anthony Molinaro	J.Y. Song
1994 Jazz	Kevin Bales
1993 Classical	Adam Kent	Nicholas Roth	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	Frederic Chiu	R. Clipper Erickson	Dmitry Rachmanov
1983 Classical	Phillip Bush	John Salmon	Michael Lewin
1981 Classical	David Buechner	Glenn Sales	Jonathan Shames