Piano Spheres has received a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts Grants to support “The Keys,” a three-part video series to broaden audience awareness and appreciation of contemporary American piano music.

The series explores music as exemplified by Piano Spheres, a 27-year-old nonprofit dedicated to presenting and commissioning new concert music for piano in Los Angeles. Each 30-minute episode will explore a different facet of contemporary piano practice including extended piano techniques, piano and electronics, and diversity and the contemporary pianist. Piano Spheres’ project is among 1,100 selected for a grant.

“NEA is providing us a wonderful opportunity to pursue a project that has been on our wavelength for some time,” said Heidi Lesemann, executive director of Piano Spheres. “As we’ve explored online concert broadcasts during the pandemic, we’ve discovered a medium that has such potential for exciting an audience [with] new art and the creators and performers behind the music. The foundation is an additional partner in this project and we are very grateful to the support from NEA and Media, the foundation which enables us to dive into this video series.”

“As the country and the arts sector begin to imagine returning to a post-pandemic world, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to announce funding that will help arts organizations such as Piano Spheres reengage fully with partners and audiences,” NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers added. “Although the arts have sustained many during the pandemic, the chance to gather with one another and share arts experiences is its own necessity and pleasure.”

Piano Spheres supports and encourages the composition and performance of major new works for the piano. It also expands the piano repertoire by commissioning new works. For information on the projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.