Beethoven Foundation Discovery Series
by Harriett Glazier
The Beethoven Foundation, Inc.,
created in 1980, is an organization
dedicated to supporting American
John Salmon
pianists participating in competition
abroad. Taking up residence in Indianapolis, it held its biennial auditions on the Butler University campus last January with Phillip Bush,
21; Michael Lewin, 27; and John
Salmon, 28, emerging as Beethoven
Fellows. Each fellowship is valued at
$30,000 and is a unique blend of cash
grants, study support, concert
engagements and expenses paid to a
major piano competition abroad.
Indianapolis residents will hear the
1981 and 1983 fellows in six piano
recitals called the "Discovery Series,"
during the noon hour at Christ
Church Cathedral on the Circle.
Opening Aug. 18, with Glenn Sales
drawing a large and enthusiastic audience, subsequent performers are
John Salmon, Sept. 22; Jonathan
Shames, Oct. 20; David Buechner,
Nov. 17; Michael Lewin, Jan. 19; and
Phillip Bush, Feb. 9. James T. Cruz,
executive director, said, 'The series
will allow Indianapolis audiences to
discover new talent, yet allow
pianists to discover new audiences."
The series is part of the foundation's
program to present its artist-in-
showcases around the country. It
provided a series of 28 recitals at the
Knoxville World's Fair and will present a series of 11 performances at the
1984 Louisiana World Exposition to
be held in New Orleans.
The Indianapolis Discovery Series
is designed to allow people who work
downtown to enjoy classical music
during their lunch hour. Each program will begin at noon and last 45
minutes, allowing workers to return
to their offices within a reasonable
time. The programs are free and open
to the entire community.
Cruz said, 'The 1983-84 season in
Indianapolis is the initial part of a
three-step series. The second step
(1984-85) will expand the program to
statewide performances and step
three, the following year, will encom-
10 • Arts Insight • September 1983
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David Buechner
pass a national tour. Funding for this
exciting project is received from major corporations." The Indianapolis
Discovery Series will be broadcast at
6:30 p.m., the same day of the program, on Butler University's NPR
outlet, WAJC.
"It has always been one of the high
priorities of the Foundation to give
the fellowship winners visibility and
the opportunity to perform in front of
an audience," said Anthony B.
Habig, secretary-treasurer of the
Foundation. "We formed the Foundation because of the difficulties young
pianists have in creating a concert
career. While many artists do not endorse competitions, it still is really
one of the more significant ways of
establishing a young artist's credentials. Due to the fact that so many artists in Europe are subsidized by the
government, the Americans going
over to compete in major competitions are at a disadvantage simply
because they have not had the oppor-
The Beethoven fellows are rapidly
becoming well-known concert artists.
Shames was one of two American
finalists in the 1981 Tchaikovsky International competition in Moscow
and Buechner received the bronze
medal in the Queen Elizabeth piano
competition in Brussels. This past
summer Salmon and Lewin received
standing ovations and critical acclaim
at the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. in
Charleston, S.C.
Salmon's "Series" recital will consist of Haydn's Sonata in E-Flat Major, Hob. XVI/52; Chopin's Barcarolle, Op. 60; and Barber's Sonata,
Op. 26. He has performed in Italy,
Portugal, Spain and West Germany
and has been soloist with the Dallas
Symphony Orchestra, the Beaumont
(Texas) Symphony, and the Sinfonica
Betica of Seville. He was awarded the
1979 University of Maryland's Loren
Eioselley Memorial prize, the
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch-
dienst stipend and Julliard's Gina
Bauchauer award.
Jonathan Shames
