On Thursday, Oct. 2, the American Pianists Association Jazz Concert Series at Eskenazi Health will debut as the newest addition to the Marianne Tobias Music Program at Eskenazi Health.
The series, which comprises five concerts featuring the Finalists of the 2014-2015 American Pianists Association Jazz Fellowship Awards, will feature solo performances in the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation Concourse at Eskenazi Health, which all members of the public are welcome to attend.
We know that exposure to music, art and natural light is not only soothing, but is also a healing influence for the body and soul,” said Dr. Lisa Harris, CEO of Eskenazi Health. “We’ve incorporated these elements in the design of the new Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital and Eskenazi Health campus, and this partnership with the American Pianists Association is just an extension of our improved healing environment.”
The first concert on Oct. 2 will feature Christian Sands, 25, of New York City. Sands is a Grammy Award-nominated pianist, a member of the Christian McBride Trio and has performed at the 2006 and 2007 Grammy Awards, among his notable achievements. The concert will begin at 4:30 p.m.
The series will feature one concert each month through February, offering performances by some of the most acclaimed young jazz musicians in the field today. The following are the dates and performers for the remaining concerts:
- Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, at 3 p.m.: Sullivan Fortner, 27, of New Orleans
- Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, at 5 p.m.: Emmet Cohen, 24, of Miami
- Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, at 4:30 p.m.: Zach Lapidus, 28, of Indianapolis
- Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, at 4:30 p.m.: Kris Bowers, 25, of Los Angeles
At the American Pianists Association we are always eager to reach out to the community and bring the world-class artistic standards of our pianists to diverse venues and audiences,” said Joel Harrison, artistic director and president/CEO of the American Pianists Association. “I am deeply grateful to Eskenazi Health for such an opportunity, and most especially to a good friend of the American Pianists Association, Marianne Tobias, for making opportunities such as this one possible through the gift of a fine grand piano and endowment gift to Eskenazi Health. The new Eskenazi Health facility is beautiful, and I am looking forward to hearing the space filled with equally beautiful music by our Jazz Finalists!”
The Jazz Fellowship Awards are produced every four years by the American Pianists Association to select the Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz. The competition takes place in three parts including the Preliminary Round, Jazz Premiere Series and Jazz Discovery Week.
A distinguished panel of musicians adjudicates, in an anonymous fashion, the preliminary round and chooses five Finalists from the recordings submitted by the nominees. The five Finalists are then invited to Indianapolis for outreach concerts, a high school residency, and a fully produced, adjudicated public performance at The Jazz Kitchen, featuring the pianists in solo and trio formats. The Finals are then held at Hilbert Circle Theatre and will feature the five Finalists with four-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves and the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra. The Finals will be streamed live featuring webcast host Christian McBride at americanpianists.org.
The Cole Porter Fellow receives a two-year Fellowship worth $100,000, including a $50,000 cash award and a two-year Fellowship to include in-kind career assistance, publicity, professional fees and other opportunities worldwide – the largest award in the world for a young jazz pianist. For more information about the American Pianists Association or the Jazz Fellowship Awards and for bios on each of the performers, please visit americanpianists.org.
Through the gift of an endowment and donation of a concert grand piano, the Marianne Tobias Music Program at Eskenazi Health is dedicated to bringing music to the healing environment at the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital and Eskenazi Health campus. From public concerts in the gardens to impromptu performances in the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation Concourse at Eskenazi Health, the Marianne Tobias Music Program welcomes artists of diverse genres to expose patients, families and staff to a wide range of musical experiences.
Eskenazi Health Foundation is proud to support the art and music programs at Eskenazi Health through philanthropy,” said Ernie Vargo II, CFRE, president and CEO of Eskenazi Health Foundation. “Through the community’s support, we’re able to partner not only with university music programs and community musical organizations to host a vast array of musical genres and skills for the listening pleasure of Eskenazi Health’s patients, visitors and staff, but also to partner with national organizations such as the American Pianists Association to bring peace and healing to our hospital campus.”
To learn more about the Marianne Tobias Music Program, please contact Eskenazi Health Foundation at 317.880.4900.
CONTACT: Jordan Anderson
Phone: 317.880.4783
Pager: 317.310.5972
Email: jordan.anderson@eskenazihealth.edu
CONTACT: Bridget Rawlins
Phone: 317.940.9334
Email: bridget@americanpianists.org