Frinna Awerbuch (1901 - 2001) created the Young Artists' Performance Competition of the Piano Teachers Congress of New York in 1972. She believed that artists early in their careers needed an opportunity to display their talent and achieve recognition. Her enthusiasm and skill helped the competition thrive and is still evident in the recognition the competition receives in New York City and throughout the world.

Upon Frinna's retirement as director at age 91 in 1992, the Piano Teachers Congress of New York renamed the competition the Frinna Awerbuch International Piano Competition. Frinna remained active as Director Emeritus, maintaining contact with former winners and monitoring each element of the competition. She attended the Winners' Recital in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall in person until age 96 and thereafter through tape recordings. We know that her spirit will remain at the heart of the competition throughout the coming years.