ANNUAL CONFERENCE

2011 Information

Ohio Arts Presenters Network's YOUNG ARTIST INITIATIVE

Congratulations to the 2011 OAPN Young Artist Initiative Featured Artist: Ben Lapps!

Ben Lapps is a fingerstyle guitarist with a passion for percussive playing and a knack for alternate tunings. His focus is in solo composition. Lapps is currently a senior at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy and has been performing professionally for 4 years. Picking up his first guitar at age 12, Lapps soon began writing his own music, and recorded his first album, The New Color, at age 14. He was the youngest participant in the 2008 International Fingerstyle Guitar Championships and the 2010 Canadian Guitar Championships. At age 17, he released his second full album, See, the Sky. Both of Lapps' albums have been released internationally. Inspired by acoustic guitar icons such as Justin King, Michael Hedges and Thomas Leeb, his music is truly unique – beautiful to listen to and mesmerizing to watch. Please visit his website for more information: www.benlapps.com

As the winner of the OAPN Young Artist Initiative, Ben attended the 2011 OAPN Annual Showcase Conference, which gave him access to professional development workshops, networking opportunities and an opportunity to perform a ten minute showcase for the 150+ attendees at the OAPN Opening Dinner on Monday, October 24. For more information about Ben, please contact Lydia Ohman at lydia@oapn.org.

Please click the links below to read about our advertisers, award winners, exhibitors, showcase artists, sponsors and our 2011 Young Artist Initiative winner.