Stecher & Horowitz Receive Award from MTNA

New York City—The distinguished educators, duo-pianists, and founders of the New York International Piano Competition Melvin Stecher and Norman Horowitz, also Executive Directors of the Stecher and Horowitz Foundation, have been singled out by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) to receive a “Citation for Leadership” at an MTNA Awards Ceremony Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 10:30 a.m. at the Hilton Hotel, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY. The celebrated pianist Menahem Pressler will receive the MTNA “Achievement Award” and Linda Stump of Colorado Springs, CO will be honored with the “Distinguished Service Award” at the ceremony. A 15-minute film culled from three documentaries directed by Linda Buell about the New York International International Piano Competition will be shown and pianist Charlie Albright, winner of the 2006 NYIPC, 2009 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, and 2010 Gilmore Young Artist Award, will perform. Melvin Stecher and Norman Horowitz have have devoted a lifetime to the musical education of young people. Internationally recognized as one of the most distinguished duo-piano teams of their generation, Stecher and Horowitz are equally renowned for their multi-faceted activities as performers, teachers, composers and educational consultants – activities that have earned them a unique position in the world of music. Having been co-directors of the Stecher and Horowitz School of the Arts for 39 years, (1960-1999) it was apparent to both principals that the most important and formative years for developing interested young musicians were the pre-teen years and into the early twenties, a good decade of concentrated and formative development. The New York Piano Competition was originally founded on this premise.

In 2009, the Stecher and Horowitz Foundation announced two major changes in its biennial New York Piano Competition (NYPC). For the first time the Competition accepted contestant applications from outside the United States effective for the summer of 2010, a change in the procedures of accepting applications only from students (American or foreign) who were pursuing studies in the United States. With this development the 2010 Competition was known as the New York International Piano Competition. In addition, it expanded its age category upwards from 14-18 years to 16-21 years – this affords contestants in the late teens the opportunity to interact musically with promising young adults, serving as a challenging incentive toward greater achievement. The original concept of allowing all contestants to complete their participation without elimination remained the same, fostering the fullest musical interaction between contestants throughout the entire span of the competition. The New York International Piano Competition remains true to its predecessor’s philosophy that the primary goal of a musical competition is to further the musical development of its contestants. The Sixth New York International Piano Competition will take place June 18 – June 22, 2012 in New York City. For further information on the next competition please contact www.stecherandhorowitz.org.

In 1876, Theodore Presser and 62 of his colleagues founded the Music Teachers National Association with the purpose of advancing the value of music study and music-making to society while supporting the careers and professionalism of teachers of music.

Today, MTNA has cemented its role as an organization essential not only to the professional and individual well-being of music-teaching professionals, but also a vital partner in their growth and development. It provides both a collective voice for teachers worldwide and a powerful alliance with a highly prestigious and influential group.

With nearly 22,000 members in 50 states—and more than 500 local affiliates—the MTNA is the preeminent source for music teacher support members embody like-minded values and commitment to their students, colleagues and society as a whole, while reaping the rewards of collaboration, continuity and connection throughout the lifetime of their careers.