ASTORIA, NY (June 1, 2018) – Pianist Drew Petersen’s career has catapulted since his April 2017 American Pianists Awards win. In March 2018, at age 24, Petersen was awarded one of the most coveted young artist prizes, the Avery Fisher Career Grant; he was signed to the roster of Opus 3 Artists in February 2018; and he has now been welcomed to the Steinway & Sons family, both as a solo recording artist with an all-American recital disc out July 20th and as an official Steinway Artist.
Petersen will join the ranks of distinguished pianists like Martha Argerich, Leif Ove Andsnes, Lang Lang, and Yuja Wang.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the many opportunities that have come my way at this point in my career,” said Petersen. “It’s an honor to join the Steinway artist roster and to be recognized among many artists whom I have admired throughout my life.”
Petersen’s forthcoming July 20th debut album will feature music by all American composers including Elliott Carter, Charles Ives, Judith Zaimont, Samuel Barber and Charles Tomlinson Griffes.
About Drew Petersen
In 2017, Drew Petersen added winner of the American Pianists Awards to a decorated young career that already included prizes from the Leeds International Piano Competition, the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition and the New York Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. Petersen was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2018.
At age five, Petersen was presented at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall and by age nine, he gave a solo recital at Steinway Hall for the company's 150th Anniversary. The New York Times has written about the early performances of the gifted, "freckle-faced 10-year-old who still impresses adults with his intelligence, maturity and depth," and New York Magazine prominently featured Petersen in an article about child prodigies. Petersen's extraordinary gifts were also chronicled in the documentary Just Normal, and in Andrew Solomon's book, Far From the Tree, which featured case studies of exceptional children.
Overseas engagements have included recitals at the Musica e Arte Festival in Tolentino, Italy; Verbier Festival in Verbier, Switzerland; Euro Arts Music Festival in Leipzig, Germany; and American Spring Festival of the Czech Republic.
Petersen graduated cum laude from Harvard at age 19 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Social Science and did his undergraduate and graduate music studies at the Juilliard School, the former as a recipient of the prestigious Kovner Fellowship. He has recently been accepted into the Artist Diploma program at the Juilliard School.
An avid traveler, it’s always a happy coincidence when Petersen’s travels take him somewhere near the ocean—a calming, grounding environment that’s as much an inspiration for his own music-making as it is an escape. He raced competitively as a child and continues his love of swimming with regular open water swims of 1-2 miles.
About STEINWAY & SONS
Since 1853, Steinway pianos have set an uncompromising standard for sound, touch, beauty, and investment value. Because of a dedication to continuous improvement, today’s Steinway remains the choice of 9 out of 10 concert artists, and it is the preferred piano of countless musicians, professional and amateur, throughout the world. For more information, visit www.steinway.com.
Press Contact:
Anthony Gilroy
Steinway & Sons
agilroy@steinway.com
+1 718.204.3116
