The idea for a larger "Celebration" as distinguished from a "Competition" arose out of the first rocky Mountain Amateur Piano Competition (RMAPC) in Colorado Springs in May 2000.  Featuring three rounds of competition juried by a distinguished panel of judges, the event was the brainchild of pianist Gregory Adams and his friend and piano enthusiast, Charles Cabell.  Adams had competed in the first ever Van Cliburn International Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in Fort Worth in 1999 (with Cabell in rapt attendance).  Returning from Texas, they conceived of a Colorado event as a "regional" version of the Van Cliburn.

Following the success of the first RMAPC, David Sckolnik, a Colorado Springs arts advocate, writer and critic, suggested that we had a chance to do something unique for both pianists and our community by enlarging the competition to include other activities, including some that would take place throughout the year, not just at the summertime event.  "Amateur Pianists International" (API), a non-profit (501 (c) (3)) organization was created to guide all of those activities.  The 2002 Celebration was the first event under the enlarged charter and there are many more to come.

The Celebration has become a part of the Summer Festival of the Arts sponsored by The Colorado College Summer Session.  API has also maintained its association with the Van Cliburn Foundation and Van Cliburn Competition Director, Richard Rodzinski.