The 2025 American Piano Awards will feature the world premiere of “Daffodils,” a commissioned composition by North Carolina-based composer Brittany J. Green, during the finals on April 4-5.
Green, whose musical journey began in childhood attending church with her mother, formally studied clarinet, music theory, and composition starting in middle school. As a music educator turned composer, she has now been chosen to create a new piece for the prestigious competition.
“We were drawn to Brittany J. Green for the same reasons we’re drawn to our pianists — she’s imaginative, bold, and shaping the future of American music,” said Chris Williams, president and CEO of the American Piano Awards. “Her compositions bring a fresh perspective to the classical genre, and we’re honored to support her voice through this commission.”
For Green, her roles as a musician, educator, and composer intersect in meaningful ways. She explains that teaching allows her to approach musical concepts like harmony and melody from a different angle, which in turn influences her own compositions and performance.
When Green was first approached to compose for the American Piano Awards, she felt the timing was perfect. She had been rediscovering her passion for writing piano music, and creating “Daffodils” for the finalists to perform felt like an ideal opportunity to not only create a new piece but also connect with both “superstar pianists” and young, emerging artists.
Green is eager to hear how each finalist interprets her work. “It’ll be really exciting to hear how each person interprets the piece and what they do similarly and what they do differently,” she shared. “It’s just been a dream of a collaboration so far.”
Inspired by the poem “in the time of daffodils” by e. e. cummings, Green’s piano suite delves into themes of growth, dreams, love, seeking, and letting go. Green reflected on her own musical journey while composing, recalling times when music felt like a limitless, whimsical space for her. She views the journey of seeking understanding, building connections, and fostering community as central elements in her composition process.
The piece also honors the mentors and teachers who have shaped her as a musician. Two movements of the piece are specifically inspired by stanzas in cummings’ poem and are dedicated to her own mentors.
During the finals, which follow a three-month competition, five finalists — Michael Davidman, Avery Gagliano, Sasha Kasman Laude, Elliot Wuu, and Angie Zhang — will perform “Daffodils.” The competition concludes with the awarding of the Christel DeHaan Classical Fellowship, a prestigious honor given to an American classical pianist every four years.
Green believes the themes of “Daffodils,” focusing on musical growth and mentorship, are well-suited to the American Piano Awards, which celebrates rising artists poised for significant career milestones. “There are some sections that are a little open-ended in terms of expressive possibilities,” Green noted. “It’ll be really interesting to see how some of the musical ideas in that first movement in particular come to life.”
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