Beatrice Rana awarded 2022 Ackman Prize by the New York Philharmonic
Beatrice Rana is awarded the 2022 Ackman Prize (Photo credit: Simon Folwer)
For Immediate Release
NEW YORK (May 6, 2022) — The New York Philharmonic has announced that the 2022 Ronnie and Lawrence Ackman Classical Piano Prize at the New York Philharmonic has been awarded to 29-year-old pianist Beatrice Rana. She is the second to receive the honor, following Benjamin Grosvenor, who received the Prize in 2016 and made his New York Philharmonic subscription debut in April 2018.
The Ackman Prize — made possible by a generous gift from Philharmonic Board Member Lawrence Ackman and his wife, Ronnie — is awarded every three years to a rising pianist or piano duo chosen by a confidential panel comprising prominent pianists, New York Philharmonic leadership, and other recognized musical figures. Recipients are given $30,000 and are engaged to perform with the New York Philharmonic, play chamber music with Philharmonic musicians, and serve as classical music ambassadors, taking part in community engagement and education initiatives in New York City.
Beatrice Rana’s activities connected with receiving the Prize include:
• her New York Philharmonic debut, June 2-4, performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, conducted by Music Director Jaap van Zweden
• a chamber music collaboration with the New York Philharmonic String Quartet, with whom she performs Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet at the 92nd Street Y, June 7, 2022
• an after-school visit with student instrumentalists from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts; the session, on June 1, 2022, includes a private solo performance by Rana and a question-and-answer session.
About the honor, Rana said: “When I got to know about this award, I was speechless. It is a way to recognize the work, to see that the life, the musical and interpretational choices, have been recognized by an institution like the New York Philharmonic, which is so important in the music scene.”
“We are delighted and honored to work with the New York Philharmonic in establishing this prize,” said Lawrence Ackman. “I inherited my love for the New York Philharmonic from my grandmother, and Ronnie is a pianist herself, so this was the ideal way to act on both of our passions. I congratulate the panel on choosing Beatrice Rana as the second Ronnie and Lawrence Ackman Classical Piano Prize recipient — she perfectly captures the artistry and advocacy that the Prize was created to celebrate, and we look forward to experiencing both in her upcoming Philharmonic collaborations.”
Lawrence and Ronnie Ackman are longtime supporters of the New York Philharmonic, particularly the Orchestra’s programs featuring piano soloists. The Lawrence and Ronnie Ackman Family Fund for Distinguished Pianists has supported Philharmonic appearances by notable pianists including Yefim Bronfman, Emanuel Ax, Garrick Ohlsson, André Watts, Jeffrey Kahane, Inon Barnatan, Yuja Wang and Daniil Trifonov. The Ackmans’ generosity also includes supporting special fundraising campaigns. Lawrence Ackman has been a Member of the New York Philharmonic’s Board of Directors since 2010. Ronnie Ackman, a pianist, is on the Lincoln Center Board. The Ackmans’ subscription tenure dates to 1942; it originally belonged to Mr. Ackman’s grandmother.
For more information on the Ronnie and Lawrence Ackman Classical Piano Prize, see here.