The American Jazz Pianist Competition on April 15 awarded its Grand Bohemian Prize to Benjamin Tweedt of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Held at Yamaha Artist Services in Manhattan, the fifth annual competition featured performances from seven pianists between the ages of 18-25 in both solo and trio formats.
With the win, Tweedt joins previous awardee Emmet Cohen, who recently earned the 2019 Cole Porter Fellowship at the American Pianists Awards.
Tweedt will receive prizes totaling more than $8,000, including a check for $6,000, a $1,200 check for three performances at Kessler Hotels, and a $300 travel allowance.
“I’m thrilled I got the chance to make music in the company of such gifted musicians,” said Tweedt. “This whole experience has been so meaningful to me and I’m so glad to have partaken in it.”
Of the other performers, Michael Clement of Bountiful, Utah, and Benjamin Rosenblum of New York City were awarded the Yamaha Prize at the competition, each earning awards worth $5,500, while Jahari Stampley of Chicago earned the Bösendorfer Prize, capturing $6,000 in rewards.
Rounding out the list of accolades, Rowan Brachman of Dallas, Wade Girton of Arlington, Texas, and Michael Orenstein of Berkeley, California won the Brian Gatchell Award, each performer receiving a Yamaha P-125 digital piano.
Judges at this year’s competition included Jim McNeely, Jeremy Siskind, and Elio Villafranca. Bassist Mike Richmond and drummer Adam Nussbaum accompanied each contestant during the trio section.
For more information on the competition, visit its website here.
Originally Published