USA: Lily Endowment Awards American Pianists Association Largest Single Award in Organization's History

Lilly Endowment Awards American Pianists Association  $5.275 million Grant; Largest Single Award  in the Organization's 36-Year History INDIANAPOLIS - The American Pianists Association (APA) announced today that it is the recipient of a $5.275M award from Lilly Endowment Inc. Lilly Endowment has a longstanding commitment to supporting organizations that improve the quality of life in Indianapolis and in Indiana, including The American Pianists Association. "We are honored to be the recipient of such a generous award from Lilly Endowment. Its support for American Pianists Association historically has had a tremendous impact on our work," says Joel Harrison, APA's Artistic Director & President/CEO. "With this transformative award, we will continue to chart a sustainable, long-term path that allows us to deliver on our commitment to discover, promote and advance the careers of American jazz and classical pianists through innovative and unique competitions." Lilly Endowment's grant, coupled with a current pledge of $2 million from the DeHaan Family Foundation, brings the total of APA's ongoing Comprehensive Campaign: A Grand Vision to nearly $12 million in cash, pledges, and estate gifts, in support of its artistic programs, operations and endowment. Founded in New York City in 1979 and relocated to Indianapolis in 1982, the APA is a national, not-for-profit organization that has flourished because of its artistic reputation for selecting uniquely talented pianists and producing high-caliber performances across the globe. The APA has held competitions for classical pianists since 1979, and began competitions for jazz pianists in 1992. Winners of the prestigious American Pianists Awards receive prizes valued at over $100,000 in cash and career services and opportunities worldwide. Its most recent classical winner is Sean Chen, and its jazz winner is Sullivan Fortner. Lilly Endowment funding will support various initiatives. APA will use this funding for organizational priorities: adding to its existing endowment and its Reserve Fund, supporting national initiatives that are part of its Strategic Plan, and contributing to operations for the classical and jazz awards. For more information on the American Pianists Association visit www.americanpianists.org.  About the American Pianists Association The American Pianists Association has been supporting aspiring young artists for over 30 years. Their unique Fellowships, both classical and jazz, offer significant opportunities for American pianists, ages 18-30, to advance their careers. Each Fellowship is valued at over $100,000 including cash awards, fees, publicity and recording opportunities. APA is proud of their assistance and innovative competition formats. All of APA's competition events are produced as public recitals and feature the Finalists in a variety of settings. APA greatly values the individual artistic sensibilities of each pianist, very much wish to nurture such individuality and do not impose any repertoire requirements during the competitions other than those necessary for the different genres. It is APA's intent to focus on artistic expression and not on competitive prowess. Further, APA makes an effort to tailor its career assistance to suit the particular needs of the Fellow, offering an array of opportunities appropriate to the Fellow's current career development and status. APA is not a management agency as such and do not try to be. Rather, APA strives to be the bridge between professional training and a full-fledged professional career. About Lilly Endowment Inc. Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly and his two sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., with gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical company. In keeping with the founders' wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. The Endowment affords special emphasis to projects that benefit young people and financial self-sufficiency in the nonprofit, charitable sector.       For media information, please contact: DL Media ·  (610) 667-0501 Matthew Jurasek · matthew@dlmediamusic.com Don Lucoff · don@dlmediamusic.com   American Pianists Association · (317) 940-9945 Joel Harrison · joel@americanpianists.org Bridget Jacoby · bridget@americanpianists.org     The American Pianists Association is supported by REI Real Estate Services, the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the City of Indianapolis, Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Lilly Endowment, Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Christel DeHaan Family Foundation in honor of the children and families of Christel House, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency and in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, among others.   ###