Henry Kramer, the L. Rexford Whiddon Distinguished Chair of Piano at Columbus State University, recently received the Avery Fisher Career Grant. Kramer was one of only four recipients nation-wide to receive the prestigious award.
 
Administered by the Lincoln Center, the Avery Fisher Artist Program grant offers professional assistance and recognition to instrumentalists with great potential for solo careers. It awards up to five $25,000 grants each year to be used for specific needs for career advancement. The other Career Grant recipients for 2019 were Angelo Xiang Yu, violinist; Christina and Michelle Naughton, piano duo; and the JACK Quartet.
 
The 2019 awards presentation ceremony was held on March 14 at the Jerome L. Greene Performance Space in New York, and it was broadcasted live on WQXR. Following the announcement, there were performances by the award recipients.
 
Kramer adds the 2019 Avery Fisher Career Grant to an extensive and growing collection of honors including a recent signing to the Steinway Artist roster, the 2015 William Petschek Recital Debut Award from The Juilliard School and Second Prize at the 2016 Queen Elisabeth Competition.