American Pianists Association

American Pianists Association – Originally called the Beethoven Foundation, the American Pianists Association was founded in 1979 in New York City by the musical satirist Victor Borge, Tony Habig of Kimball International, and Julius Bloom, former manager of Carnegie Hall. In 1982, APA’s headquarters relocated to Indianapolis, partly because of its central location. Since 2001, Joel Harrison has been the artistic director and CEO of the organization. The purpose of APA is to discover, promote, and advance the careers of young American pianists (ages 18-30). Although originally devoted exclusively to classical music, the organization expanded its scope to include jazz in 1992. In addition to organizing its own competitions, APA also prepares pianists for other competitions worldwide. Every three years, the organization awards the following two-year fellowships on a staggered schedule: the DeHaan Classical Fellow, the Max I. Allen Classical Fellow, and the Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz. Valued at $100,000, the prizes include cash, recording services, promotional materials, and an international tour sponsored by the APA PianoFest. In addition, five finalists participate in a series of outreach concerts, collectively known as the Concerto Curriculum. In short, the competitions bring a wealth of performance activity to the city, including appearances with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra for the classical pianists and showdowns at the Jazz Kitchen and the Madame Walker Theatre for the jazz pianists.