VC LIVE | 2025 American Piano Awards Final Round

Tune in on April 4-5 to watch the final rounds of the 2025 competition

We're coming to you LIVE from Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 2025 American Piano Awards Competition. In the final, five candidates will perform a piano concerto with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under the direction of guest conductor JoAnn Falletta. They will be competing for the prestigious Christel DeHaan Classical Fellowship, given every four years to an American classical pianist at the end of the 13-month competition.

Each of the five finalists has already won a cash prize of $25,000 and will receive career support valued at more than $200,000 — including two years of career management and public relations assistance, a media tour, an artist residency at the University of Indianapolis, a recording contract with Steinway & Sons record label, performance engagements both nationally and abroad, and more.

The 2025 Awards winner will additionally embark on a new recital tour during the 2026-27 season, as well as performing with the American Pianists Association’s partner orchestras: the Phoenix Symphony, the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and more.

The jury includes Marina Lomazov, Tito Muñoz, Roberta Rust, and Stephen Myer.

The finalists are:

• Michael Davidman
• Avery Gagliano
• Sasha Kasman Laude
• Elliot Wuu
• Angie Zhang

PROGRAM:

Saturday, April 5, 2025 5:30 pm (ET)

• Avery Gagliano – Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
• Sasha Kasman Laude – Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

Friday, April 4, 2025 7:00 pm (ET)

• Angie Zhang – Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
• Elliot Wuu – Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
• Michael Davidman – Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30