Winners: The American Prize in Piano Performance (concerto), 2021—The Lorin Hollander Award

The American Prize wishes everyone safety and health during this difficult time.

Lorin Hollander

The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts, David (Volosin) Katz, founder and chief judge, is honored to announce the winners and runners-up of The American Prize in Piano Performance (concerto), 2021—The Lorin Hollander Award, in professional and college/university divisions. Congratulations! 

Complete listings of finalists and semi-finalists in The American Prize competitions may be found elsewhere on this blog. Please use the chronological tool in the right-hand column to find specific results.

Please make us aware of any misprints: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize LORIN HOLLANDER AWARD celebrates the artistry of one of the greatest pianists of his generation. Lorin Hollander has appeared as guest soloist with virtually every major symphony orchestra in the world and is a veteran of over 2,500 performances across the globe. The American Prize is delighted to share the legacy of this legendary artist through the re-naming of the award for Piano Concerto Performance in his honor. For more about the extraordinary life and career of Lorin Hollander, please visit http://lorinhollander.com/

COVID EXTENSION: Because of the current national and international situation, many rules have been changed and requirements eased to make it easier to apply for The American Prize, 2022. In addition, application deadlines have been extended with further extensions available by email request. 

We will accept applications from COMPOSERS, CLASSICAL VOCALISTS, PIANISTS, CHAMBER ENSEMBLES and INSTRUMENTAL SOLOISTS will be accepted until Tuesday, June 22, 2021. 

Applications from CONDUCTORS, STAGE DIRECTORS, CONDUCTED ENSEMBLES, ARTS ADMINISTRATORS (arts marketing, arts education) in the performance of American Music (BACON AWARD) and in the new category of VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE will be accepted until Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Visit theamericanprize.org for complete contest information.

***

The American Prize 
in Piano Performance (concerto), 2021—The Lorin Hollander Award 
(professional division)

The American Prize winner:
Susan Merdinger     
Highland Park IL 
Beethoven—B flat Major Concerto

Susan Merdinger

Steinway Artist, Susan Merdinger has been internationally acclaimed in prestigious newspapers and journals for her stunning performances, particularly noted for her recordings of Schumann, Brahms, and Beethoven. Among her many honors, Merdinger is an Honored Artist of The American Prize, (having won several top prizes in the professional divisions of the Chamber Music, Piano Concerto and American Music categories), a two-time First Prize Winner of the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition in Professional Solo and Duo Piano, two-time Gold Medalist of the Global Music Awards, Winner of the Dewar’s Young Artists Award in Music, Winner of the Artists International Young Musicians Competition. Performing her sold-out solo recital debut in Carnegie Recital Hall at age twenty-four, Merdinger has continued to grace the stages of some of the world’s best concert halls. She has appeared as soloist with professional orchestras such as the Chicago Philharmonic, the State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico and the Northbrook Symphony and has been a frequent Visiting Artist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series. Merdinger’s live performances and recordings have been broadcast worldwide on WQXR, WFMT, BRT-3 (Belgian National Radio), NPR and BBC Television. Merdinger received her formal education at Yale University, the Yale School of Music, and the Manhattan School of Music. She is on the Faculty of Summit Music Festival in New York, and is Founder and Artistic Director of Sheridan Music Studio, where she curates two distinguished concert series, Music with a View and Blue Skies Concerts. She also serves as an Artistic Advisor to IN.LIVE. Ms. Merdinger's award-winning performance of the Beethoven was with the Northbrook Symphony and music director Mina Zikri.


2nd Place:
Chia-Ying Chan     
Urbana IL       
Beethoven—G Major Concerto

Chia-Ying Chan

Chia-Ying Chan, originally from Taiwan, brings passion, color, sensitivity and creativity to her interpretations of classical music. As an active soloist and chamber pianist, she performs nationally and internationally at conferences, festivals and prestigious venues across Taiwan, America and Europe, including at Kostroma Music Hall in Russia; National Recital Hall in Taipei, Taiwan; and Carnegie Weill Hall in New York, and have been invited to perform at Wiener Saal Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.  Chan has won top prizes, such as the 2016 International Music Competition Salzburg Grand Prize (First Prize), and the 2014 West Virginia Piano Competition (First Prize). Her recent performances include 21st Century Piano Commission Recital, live broadcast performance at Schubertiade in Chicago, and concerto performance with Sinfonia da Camera contacted by Ian Hobson. Chan received her Doctor of Musical Arts from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her mentors include Timothy Ehlen, Paul Schenly and Kathryn Brown.


3rd Place:
Clare Longendyke
Indianapolis IN       
Beethoven— G Major Concerto

Clare Longendyke

Clare Longendyke is an award-winning pianist whose dazzling musicianship and colorful interpretations delight audiences wherever she performs. Recognized for the expressive energy and originality she brings to new and traditional repertoire, the effervescent soloist and chamber musician won four national competitions and was a finalist in several others during the past decade. Set apart by her inspiring touch and captivating way of sharing music, Longendyke is a sought-after soloist, performing over 50 concerts a year in North America and abroad. Recent orchestral partners include Boston’s Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra of Minnesota. Hailed as a superlative pianist by the Journal of International Alliance of Women in Music, Longendyke is on track for a transcendent musical career. She currently serves as Artist-in-Residence and Director of Chamber Music at the University of Chicago.

The American Prize 
in Piano Performance (concerto), 2021—The Lorin Hollander Award
(college/university division)

The American Prize winner:
Yang Li  
Rochester NY         
Prokovfiev—Piano Concerto No. 3

Yang Li  

Yang Li entered the Middle School affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at age twelve, studying with Professors Xiaosheng Zhao and Dapeng Chen. He continued his studies in the United States for his Bachelor of Music degree and Master of Music Art at the Eastman School of Music. Yang was awarded the First Prize at the Second Palatino Shanghai International Young Artist Piano Competition (2009) and the Gold Award and Chinese Special Composition Award at the Heitzmann China National Piano Competition (2005). He was also one of the three finalists of 2018 Eastman Piano Competition (The Douglas Lowry Award). Performances have included recitals at the National Music Teacher Conference and the “Finger Tip of China” concert at Communication University, “Liszt and Virtuosity: An International Symposium” at Eastman School of Music. Yang is currently pursuing his Doctor of Music Arts degree at the Eastman, studying under Professor Douglas Humpherys.

2nd Place:
Yuhui Li
Mesa AZ      
Shostakovich—Concerto No. 2 

Yuhui Li

Yuhui Li has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States and China. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Arizona State University, majoring in Piano Performance with Professor Robert Hamilton. Yuhui has been invited to various international piano festivals such as the New Paltz International Piano Festival. Yuhui also won the 2018 ASU Concerto Competition and performed the Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 with the ASU Symphony. Yuhui joined ASU as a teaching assistant and also served as an instructor at the ASU Community Music School. Students advised by Yuhui have won multiple international and domestic awards in major piano competitions.

3rd Place:
Xiaoya Liu
Ann Arbor MI      
Prokofiev—Concerto No. 3 

Xiaoya Liu

Pianist Xiaoya Liu has captured the imagination of worldwide audiences through her profound interpretations and immaculate performances as concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. Having made her solo recital debut at age nine, Xiaoya has appeared extensively in Asia, Europe, and across the United States with orchestras such as the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, the GSIM Festival Orchestra, and the Round Rock Symphony and in venues including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.   Recent successes in international competitions include the First Prize in the Sicily International Piano Competition, Silver Medal in the Wideman International Piano Competition, First Prize in the Michigan MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition, Winner of the PianoTexas Concerto Competition and the University of Michigan Concerto Competition. Xiaoya is currently pursuing a DMA at the University of Michigan on full scholarship studying with Christopher Harding. Website: xiaoyaliupiano.com

*** 
Congratulations!