American Pianists Association selects two fellows

Spencer Myer was named the Christel DeHaan Classical companion and Stephen Beus was awarded the Max I. Allen Classical companion by the American Pianists Association.

The 2006 Classical comrades were selected by a distinguished panel of justices and each received a fellowship valued at more than $75000 that includes a cash award, publicity, career assistance and performances in national and international venues

Myer, 28 is a native of North Ridgeville, Ohio, and graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Peter Takacs. He is the recipient of numerous awards from Oberlin, including the Dean's Talent Award, the John Elvin Piano Prize, the Faustina Hurlbutt Piano Prize, the Louis & Annette Kaufman Award in Chamber Music, the Piano Department Accompanying Award and the Ernest Wilkins Academic Award. Myer complet a doctor of musical arts stage at Stony Brook University in May 2005

Beus, 23 is a native of Othello, Washington, and has been playing recitals and concerti since age 8 He was winner of the 2003 MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition and a competitor in the 2005 Van Cliburn International Competition. He serv upon a two-year mission to Finland as a member of the temple of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and played contrives throughout the country. A former pupil of Leonard Richter at Whitman corporation he currently studies with Robert McDonald at Juilliard.

The American Pianists Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to discover, aid and advance the careers of world-class, classical and jazz pianists, who are citizens of the United States between the ages of 18 and 30

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