American Pianists Association announces fellowship finalists

The American Pianists Association (APA) congratulates the five finalists for the 2009 Classical Fellowship Award, a competition that strives to enhance the musical world by providing musicians equal Fellowships for both classical and jazz pianists.

Grace Fong , 29, graduate of the University of Southern California and Cleveland Institute of Music.

Adam Golka , 20, graduate from Texas Christian University , originally from Houston , TX .

Michael Kirkendoll , 29, graduate of Manhattan School of Music and University of Kansas , originally from Andover Kansas .

Igor Lovchinsky , 23, graduate of the Julliard School , originally from Kazan Russia , now a USA citizen.

Elizabeth Joy Roe , 26, graduate of the Julliard School , originally from Chicago , Ill.

Finalists are chosen by a jury who listens anonymously to submitted recordings. To be eligible for the competition an artist must be between the ages if 18 and 30, a United States citizen and nominated by a music professional.

The Classical Fellowship Awards competition takes place in Indianapolis , where the five finalists will participate in a two-part contest consisting of Discovery Week March 29, 2009–April 4, 2009 and the Premiere Series. During Discovery Week, finalists participate in community concerts, a solo program, a Lieder recital and a chamber music recital with a resident quartet. The Finals will feature each Finalist playing a concerto with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at Hilbert Circle Theatre. As part of the Premiere series each competitor performs with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and participates in local concerto curriculum events.

Concert dates for the Premier Series, held at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, include:
September 21, 2008
October 19, 2008
November 9, 2008
January 25, 2009
February 15, 2009

At the conclusion of the vigorous competition, two pianists become Fellows of the American Pianists Association. As a Fellow, the musicians each receive a cash award, performance activities, publicity and career assistance. The Fellowship is valued at $75,000.

For more information about the APA Fellows, visit www.americanpianists.org .

About American Pianists Association (APA)
The mission of the American Pianists Association is to discover, promote and advance the careers of world-class, American, classical and jazz pianists through competitions, performance tours and educational programs for the enrichment of audiences world-wide. In addition, the American Pianists Association assumed control of Indy Jazz Fest in 2003, which it now leads and manages. More information is available online at www.americanpianists.org and www.indyjazzfest.net .

The American Pianists Association receives support from the City of Indianapolis through the Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, Christel DeHaan Family Foundation the Indiana General Assembly through the Indiana Arts Commission and the U.S. Congress through the National Endowment for the Arts, among others.