Isaiah J. Thompson wins 2023 American Pianists Awards in Indianapolis
The American Pianists Awards has a new jazz champion. Isaiah J. Thompson won the 2023 Indianapolis-based competition Saturday night — an honor that comes with a prize valued at more than $200,000 and a professional career boost.
Thompson, 25, was one of five finalists to compete in the Gala Finals at Hilbert Circle Theatre. He owned his originality and vision in the pieces, pulling out a big, full sound that spread to every crevice of the hall — especially in "Hi-Fly" by Randy Weston.
The description of flying high is fitting for Thompson's win, which comes in the midst of a streak of good news. He recently became engaged to be married and on Friday celebrated his mom's birthday. Nonetheless, he told IndyStar he tried to remain calm.
"I was just trying to be as authentic as I can," Thompson, who's based in New York, said after his win was announced. "Sometimes under high stress, it can be hard, but I'm just trying to be myself regardless of the circumstances."
Each finalist receives $25,000 from the competition, which occurs every two years and alternates between selecting jazz and classical pianist winners between the ages of 18 and 30. The operating organization is the American Pianists Association, which began in 1979 as the Beethoven Foundation in New York and then moved to Indianapolis in 1982 thanks in part to its founders' Hoosier ties.
Thompson's prize includes an additional $25,000, a Mack Avenue album, career assistance, performance tour with engagements in the U.S. and abroad as well as an artist residency at the University of Indianapolis and publicity.
How the winner performed
Thompson competed Saturday against finalists Caelan Cardello, Esteban Castro, Paul Cornish and Thomas Linger. Each pianist performed with star musicians — Grammy Award-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant and the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra. Grammy-winning pianist Bill Charlap emceed.
With Salvant, Thompson performed "Nobody Else But Me" by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. As she did with each pianist, Salvant brought a depth of colors, moods and characters that felt entirely in the moment.
Meet the finalists: Isaiah Thompson writes music to connect with audiences
Thompson expertly played off the sassy lyrics in Salvant's vocals. The piano became the voice of the grateful lover she sang about, and he ended with a flourish that elicited an immediate thundering applause. So how did he prepare to perform with the Grammy-winning vocalist?
"I just tried to be as present as possible," he said. "Every once in a while, you get into your head and start trying to think about the future or ... you get caught up in the past of what you already played. And I think just trying to be as present as possible was what I was trying to do."
The five finalists also performed Friday in the Club Finals with drummer Kenny Phelps and bassist Nick Tucker at The Cabaret. Grammy-winning singer Sylvia McNair was the emcee.
The award is the latest in a long line of Thompson's accomplishments. He won the 2018 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award and took second place in the 2018 Thelonious Monk (now Herbie Hancock) Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition.
Thompson, who's from West Orange, N.J., received his master's degree from the Juilliard School and released his debut album as a leader, called "Isaiah J. Thompson Plays the Music of Buddy Montgomery" in 2020. He also performed on the 2019 film "Motherless Brooklyn" with trumpet icon Wynton Marsalis.
How the contest works
The American Pianists Association selected Cardello, Castro, Cornish, Linger and Thompson as finalists in March 2022 after a blind audition process from nominations provided by piano educators, jazz artists, agents, promoters, critics, record labels executives and others in the industry.
From September 2022 through February 2023, each visited Indianapolis to perform in the Premiere Series at The Jazz Kitchen for a jury panel as well as participate in outreach and community events.
Three jury panels evaluated the finalists over the course of the competition. The panelists included former winners, performers, composers and faculty from schools including the Juilliard School, Ball State University, Indiana University and Howard University, among others.
The scores from the Premiere Series, Club and Gala Finals all counted toward the overall evaluation to select the winner.
The last jazz piano winner of the American Pianists Awards was Emmet Cohen in the 2019 cycle.
Looking for things to do? Our newsletter has the best concerts, art, shows and more — and the stories behind them
Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Isaiah J. Thompson wins 2023 American Pianists Awards in Indianapolis
