In 2015, Lady Blanka Rosenstiel announced that the first prize of $75,000 would be underwritten by the Rosenstiel Foundation. It was at the time, the largest cash prize award of any such competition in the US. Other competitions quickly followed suit. It is Lady Blanka's fervent belief that American pianists who work so hard to attain this level of artistry, should be rewarded for their efforts and talent - as other professionals are able to earn impressive salaries.The US competition win was the stepping stone for Eric's continued subsequent success.