William Kapell

William Kapell was an American classical pianist. He began his musical education at the Third Street Music School and later studied with Olga Samaroff at the Juilliard School. In 1941, he won the Philadelphia Orchestra's youth competition and the Naumburg Award, leading to his New York debut in 1942, which earned him the Town Hall Award for the year's outstanding concert by a musician under 30. Kapell signed an exclusive recording contract with RCA Victor and achieved fame in his early twenties, particularly through his performances of Aram Khachaturian's Piano Concerto in D-flat. He toured extensively across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia throughout the late 1940s. On October 29, 1953, Kapell died on October 29, 1953.