EarRelevant Staff | 14 MAR 2024
Indianapolis, IN— The American Pianists Association has announced the five finalists for its 2025 American Pianists Awards, each set to receive a guaranteed prize of $25,000. Michael Davidman, Avery Gagliano, Sasha Kasman Laude, Elliot Wuu, and Angie Zhang will compete for the esteemed Christel DeHaan Classical Fellowship, awarded every four years to an American classical pianist at the culmination of the organization’s 13-month competition.
The announcement came from American Pianists Association President and CEO Chris Williams, who expressed excitement about collaborating with the talented finalists. “The 2025 Awards are a unique celebration of our five talented finalists,” Williams said. “It is incredibly rewarding to collaborate with these young pianists in the early stages of their careers and provide opportunities for them to grow as artists.”
Pianist Michelle Cann, appointed as the organization’s inaugural Christel DeHaan Artistic Partner, will provide further support to the finalists. She will oversee all artistic aspects of the competition, including managing the nomination process, jury selection, and concert programming.
Michelle Cann (credit: Steven Mareazi Willis)
“I am so excited to work through this process and help support these great young pianists,” Cann said. “I cannot wait to see all of this through to the finals in April 2025.”
The five finalists were chosen in a blind audition process from nominations solicited from over 1,200 piano educators, artists, and industry professionals. The competition, open exclusively to American citizens aged 18-30 and by nomination only, offers a unique platform for the national classical community to identify the best young American piano talent every four years.
In addition to the cash prize and performance opportunities, the 2025 American Pianists Awards winner will receive career support valued at over $200,000. This support includes two years of career management and public relations assistance, a media tour, an artist residency at the University of Indianapolis, a recording contract with Steinway & Sons record label, and national and international performance engagements.
The competition will unfold over a series of live-juried performances held in Indianapolis from October 2024 to February 2025, with finalists participating in educational and community events alongside their performances. The 2025 Awards will culminate in the Gala Finals with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta, taking place on April 4-5, 2025, at Hilbert Circle Theatre.
Two separate jury panels adjudicate the American Pianists Awards. The preliminary jury selected the five finalists from a pool of nominated pianists’ audio recordings through a blind listening process, while the competition jury will judge all live competition events.
For more information on the American Pianists Association and the 2025 Awards, visit www.americanpianists.org. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- American Pianists Association: americanpianists.org
Read more by EarRelevant Staff.
.png){kind=logo}