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Press Releases
New Podcast Featuring Career Building for Young Artists by American Pianists Association
American Pianists Association launches new podcast The Journey
Weekly episodes will feature dynamic stories of young artists building their careers and compelling conversations with established pianists
The institution behind the respected biannual American Pianists Awards, has jumped into the storytelling market with a new podcast, The Journey. An expert at finding and grooming the country’s next generation of great piano talent, the American Pianist Association’s new podcast will feature the journeys of its competition winners and also conversations with famed pianists that have paved the way for these young artists. Listeners can follow along as 2015 American Pianists Awards jazz winner Sullivan Fortner crisscrosses the country building notoriety as a solo artist while performing alongside esteemed colleagues like Dianne Reeves, Roy Hargrove, Dave Liebman and Cecile McLorin Salvant, and as 2017 classical winner Drew Peterson begins his ascent to North America’s great concert halls, beginning with the prestigious Avery Fischer Career Grant. In its first season, The Journey will include late classical music industry giant Charlie Hamlen in a touching conversation with piano greats Ursula Oppens and Jerry Lowenthal.
The series is hosted by the organization’s Kim Lewis and Lee Clifford. Radio veteran Steve Robinson, of New Media Productions, is producer and engineer.
The first two episodes include an introduction to the organization from the five jazz finalists competing in the 2019 American Pianists Awards, as well as a deeper look at finalist Keelan Dimick via his teacher Martin Bejerano who talks with the hosts about Cuban influence, relationships between pianists and drummers, and career growth.
In addition to Keelan Dimick, The Journey also provides a platform for tomorrow’s great artists, with episodes focusing on the other 2019 American Pianists Awards finalists Kenny Banks Jr., Emmet Cohen, Dave Meder, and Billy Test, as they compete for the coveted grand prize in April 2019.
In future episodes, Lewis and Clifford will catch up with past APA winners, including Aaron Diehl, Sean Chen, Spencer Myer, and Frederic Chiu.
The podcast can be listened to via:
New Media Productions is a media company created in 2016 by Steve Robinson. The company creates and produces podcasts, CD’s and provides consulting services to a variety of media clients. Robinson has been creating, producing and developing radio programs for 50 years that have been heard throughout the U.S. and around the world, and most recently served for 16 years as the general manager of WFMT and the WFMT Radio Network in Chicago.
The mission of the American Pianists Association is to discover, promote and advance the careers of young, American, world-class jazz and classical pianists. We celebrate the beauty of music through America's premier jazz and classical awards. The American Pianists Association nurtures the artistic growth of America's top young pianists by focusing on creative expression and career development. Our largest and most prestigious support is given through a biennial competition known as the American Pianists Awards. Since our founding in 1979, the American Pianists Association has supported 46 winners.
The American Pianists Awards are held every two years to discover the best aspiring young American jazz or classical pianists. The unique and innovative competitions span 13 months and provide a platform to deeply engage musical artists in a variety of creative formats and settings. Winners receive cash and two-years of career advancement and support valued at over $100,000, making this one of the most coveted prizes in the music world and the largest for American jazz pianists.
As part of each American Pianists Awards competition, every finalist completes a residency with a high school orchestra or jazz band. Residencies typically span the course of three days and culminate in a joint public performance with school musicians. Known as Concerto Curriculum, this program brings the beauty of world-class music to new audiences and non-traditional venues, provides pedagogical growth for developing artists, and inspires new generations of young musicians.
For more information please visit The Journey.
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