The American Prize is very pleased to announce the winners of
The American Prize in Piano Performance, 2012. Complete listings of finalists and semi-finalists in The American Prize competitions may be found elsewhere on this blog.
Please make us aware of any misprints: theamericanprize@gmail.comThe American Prize in Piano Performance (SOLO), 2012—PROFESSIONAL DIVISION:The American Prize winner:Nathanael May, MO
Pianist Nathanael May has performed recitals throughout the United States and Europe, presenting research on piano music of the modern era at the World Piano Conference and the Euro-Mediterranean Music Conference, with master classes in Turkey, Serbia, the Netherlands, and Italy. May is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Italian soundSCAPE festival, at which over 200 new works have been premiered. He is an assistant professor at Missouri Western State University.
www.NathanaelMay.com2nd Place:Lara Downes, CA
WWW.LARADOWNES.COM
Ms. Downes also won a Special Citation from The American Prize. Please see below.
3rd Place:
Graciella Kowalczyk, KY
www.graciellakowalczyk.comThe American Prize in Piano Performance (SOLO), 2012—COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY DIVISION:
The American Prize winner:Azariah Tan, MIStraits Times music reviewer states, "Azariah will touch the lives of many people with his music wherever he goes." The National Arts Council-Conservatory scholar, graduated from NUS with first-class honors. He holds multiple awards, has performed with world-class orchestras, in master-classes by renowned pianists like Murray Perahia, and gives back by performing for charity.
Azariah, 20, currently studies with Logan Skelton for a double Masters in Music degree at the University of Michigan under full-scholarship.
2nd Place:
Kevin Kwan Loucks, NYwww.kevinloucks.com
3rd Place:
Yuanchang Zhou, MI
The American Prize in Piano Performance (SOLO), 2012—HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION:
The American Prize winner:
Taide Ding, MS
Taide Ding is a junior at Oxford High School in Oxford, Miss. Taide began studying piano at age 4 in Tokyo, Japan, and since moving to Oxford in 2001, he has studied with Dr. Ian Hominick. In addition, Taide is a varsity athlete for the OHS swim team, an Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Grand Award recipient, as well as a columnist and reporter for OHS’s nationally acclaimed student newspaper, the Charger.
2nd Place:
T.J. Keanu Tario, NY
3rd Place:
Michael Davidman, NY
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The American Prize in Piano Performance (CONCERTO), 2012—COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY DIVISION:
The American Prize winner:
Azariah Tan, MI
Straits Times music reviewer states, "Azariah will touch the lives of many people with his music wherever he goes." The National Arts Council-Conservatory scholar, graduated from NUS with first-class honors. He holds multiple awards, has performed with world-class orchestras, in master-classes by renowned pianists like Murray Perahia, and gives back by performing for charity.
Azariah, 20, currently studies with Logan Skelton for a double Masters in Music degree at the University of Michigan under full-scholarship.
2nd Place:
Azariah Tan, MI
3rd Place:
Kevin Kwan Loucks, MI
www.kevinloucks.com
The American Prize in Piano Performance (CONCERTO), 2012—HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
The American Prize winner:
Jim Lu, UT
Jim Lu, age 16, is currently a student of Dr. Irene Peery-Fox. He has won the Utah Valley Symphony Young Artist competition twice and soloed with the symphony when he was 9 and 11. At the age of 13, Jim won the Utah Symphony Salute to Youth competition and performed Franz Liszt's Totentanz with the symphony. He was the state winner of the MTNA competition and placed 3rd at the regional MTNA in 2010. Jim has also placed 1st twice at the Utah State Fair musical competition and is a winner of the 2012 AFAF International Competition.
2nd place:
Jing Luo, VA
3rd place:
Michael Davidman, NY
SPECIAL CITATION: UNIQUE ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT
Lara Downes
Lara Downes has been awarded a special Citation from The American Prize, recognizing Unique Artistic Achievement, for her compact disc, 13 Ways of Looking at the Goldberg.
Praised by NPR as “a delightful artist with a unique blend of musicianship and showmanship” and praised by the Washington Post for performances “rendered with drama and nuance”, Lara Downes has appeared on many prestigious stages, including Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Vienna Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center. Downes’ six solo recordings have met with tremendous acclaim. Her latest CD, 13 Ways of Looking at the Goldberg was released in Fall 2011. WWW.LARADOWNES.COM
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Congratulations to all winners and runners-up.
